DRAFT Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan€¦ · 1. Reduce the risk to public safety and...

DRAFT

Multi-Jurisdictional

Hazard Mitigation Plan

December, 2014

For Public Review

Chester County Department of Emergency Services

601 Westtown Road, Suite 012

West Chester, PA 19380-0990

Chester County

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan

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Record of Changes

Date Description of Change Made Change Made By

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Certification of Annual Review

The Chester County Department of Emergency Services Emergency Management

Division has reviewed this Hazard Mitigation Plan and hereby certifies the review.

Date Public Outreach Addressed? Signature

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Promulgation

THIS PLAN IS PROMULGATED AS THE CHESTER COUNTY HAZARD

MITIGATION PLAN. THIS PLAN IS DESIGNED TO COMPLY WITH ALL

APPLICABLE FEDERAL, COMMONWEALTH, AND COUNTY REGULATIONS

AND PROVIDES THE ACTIONS TO UNDERTAKE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF

FUTURE DISASTERS.

THIS PLAN SUPERSEDES ALL PREVIOUS HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS.

PROMULGATED THIS DAY OF , 2015

Kathi Cozzone

Terence Farrell

Michele Kichline

Chief Clerk

(OFFICIAL SEAL OF THE COUNTY OF CHESTER)

Robert J. Kagel

Director

Department of Emergency Services

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FEMA Letter of Approval

[Page reserved for copy of FEMA Letter of Approval]

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Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ 1

OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 3

PURPOSE ...................................................................................................................................... 3

APPLICABILITY AND SCOPE .................................................................................................. 4

MISSION AND GOALS ................................................................................................................ 4

Mission .................................................................................................................. 4

Goals ...................................................................................................................... 4

AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES ........................................................................................ 5

UPDATE AND MAINTENANCE ............................................................................................... 6

COMMUNITY BACKGROUND ................................................................................................. 7

County Profile ........................................................................................................ 8

Government Structure .......................................................................................... 11

Educational Institutions ........................................................................................ 12

Population Projections ......................................................................................... 13

Land Use .............................................................................................................. 14

Economy .............................................................................................................. 15

Housing ................................................................................................................ 17

Infrastructure ....................................................................................................... 18

Geology and Topography ...................................................................................... 19

Hydrology ............................................................................................................ 21

Climate................................................................................................................. 22

PLANNING PROCESS .............................................................................................................. 25

Determine the planning area and resources .......................................................... 26

Build the planning team ....................................................................................... 26

Create an Outreach Strategy ................................................................................. 27

Review community capabilities ............................................................................ 28

Conduct a risk assessment .................................................................................... 28

Develop a mitigation strategy ............................................................................... 29

Implement the Plan .............................................................................................. 30

Review and Adopt the Plan ................................................................................... 32

RISK ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................. 33

Hazard Identification ............................................................................................ 34

Hazard Profiles ..................................................................................................... 36

Natural Hazards .................................................................................................... 37 Drought and Water Supply Deficiencies .............................................................................................. 37 Earthquake ........................................................................................................................................... 39 Extreme Temperatures ........................................................................................................................ 42 Flooding ............................................................................................................................................... 44 Hurricane and Tropical Storm .............................................................................................................. 48

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Thunderstorms..................................................................................................................................... 50 Tornados and Wind Storms ................................................................................................................. 52 Winter Storms ...................................................................................................................................... 55

Human-Caused Hazards ........................................................................................ 57 Armed Attacks...................................................................................................................................... 57 Civil Disturbance .................................................................................................................................. 59 Conventional/Improvised Bombs ........................................................................................................ 61 Cyber Terrorism ................................................................................................................................... 63 Dam Breaches ...................................................................................................................................... 65 Extended Utility, Data, or Telecomm Disruptions ............................................................................... 68 Fires ...................................................................................................................................................... 70 Hazardous Material Releases ............................................................................................................... 72 Nuclear Incidents ................................................................................................................................. 75 Transportation Accidents ..................................................................................................................... 77

Hazards Omitted from Hazard Profiles .................................................................. 79

Assessing Vulnerability to Hazards ........................................................................ 80

CAPABILITIES AND MITIGATION STRATEGY ............................................................... 85

Legal and Regulatory Capabilities ......................................................................... 86 Building Codes...................................................................................................................................... 87 Subdivision, Land Development, and Zoning Ordinance ..................................................................... 87 Floodplain Ordinance/NFIP .................................................................................................................. 88 Stormwater Management Plan/Stormwater Ordinance ..................................................................... 88 Comprehensive Plan ............................................................................................................................ 88 Capital Improvement Plan ................................................................................................................... 89 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) ....................................................................................................... 89

Administrative and Technical Capabilities ............................................................. 89 County Departments and Authorities .................................................................................................. 90 Emergency Management Coordinator ................................................................................................ 91 Intergovernmental Cooperation .......................................................................................................... 92 Municipal Engineering ......................................................................................................................... 92 Plan Interrelationships ......................................................................................................................... 92 Spatial Data, Mapping and Analysis ..................................................................................................... 92 Transportation Improvement Program ............................................................................................... 93

Fiscal Capabilities ................................................................................................. 93 State, Federal, and Private Sector Grants ............................................................................................ 93 Capital Improvement Financing ........................................................................................................... 93 Municipal Authorities .......................................................................................................................... 94

Political Capabilities ............................................................................................. 94 Council of Governments ...................................................................................................................... 94

Institutional Capabilities ....................................................................................... 94 Hazard Mitigation Actions ................................................................................................................... 95

Mitigation Action Matrix ...................................................................................... 97

2010 Mitigation Plan Action Status ..................................................................... 105

APPENDICES .......................................................................................................................... 106

Appendix A: Acronyms ....................................................................................... 107

Appendix B: Planning Team Agencies .................................................................. 108

Appendix C: Public Risk Assessment Survey Results ............................................ 109

MUNICIPAL MITIGATION ASSESSMENT ANNEXES .................................................... 113

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Executive Summary

Chester County Pennsylvania is at risk for being impacted by numerous hazards some of

which include flooding, blizzards, and hazardous materials spills. Past events such as

Hurricane Irene in 2011 and the February 2014 ice storm have caused loss of life and

damages to property, infrastructure, and the economy within the county. Future

emergency events have the potential to negatively impact county residents, visitors,

businesses, government organizations, industries, and farmers. In efforts to reduce the

impact to the community from future events, the County has prepared a Hazard

Mitigation Plan.

The Chester County Mitigation Committee, established in 2003, provides advice to the

Board of Commissioners, the Department of Emergency Services, and other county

departments and agencies on strategies and techniques to eliminate or reduce the loss of

life, destruction of property and damages to the environment from disasters. The

Mitigation Committee provided the framework to develop two planning teams. The

teams focused on determining which natural and human-caused hazards the county is

most vulnerable and develop actions that would reduce the impact from those hazards.

Numerous stakeholders were brought into the planning process to ensure the needs of the

community were assessed from multiple angles. Planning teams incorporated multiple

county departments and agencies as well as representatives from outside Chester County

government including municipal, state, federal, and private sector employees. Public

feedback was integrated throughout the entire planning process to ensure the mitigation

plan was focused on the correct concerns, issues, and needs of the community. This

update of the Hazard Mitigation Plan expanded the 2010 mitigation plan by including

human-caused hazards in addition to the traditional focus on natural hazards.

The overarching mission and goals of the mitigation plan, as well as profiles for each

disaster were updated to accurately represent the community and potential impact from

future events. The planning teams went through a risk assessment process to determine

which hazards have the highest potential to impact the county. The County’s current

capabilities to respond to disasters were then assessed. This led to a gap-analysis to aid

in determining the best use of future time, money, and effort towards mitigation. The

final step was the planning teams developing a listing of potential mitigation actions

which could be beneficial in reducing impact from the most probable hazards.

Most disasters within the county are not localized to one municipality. To develop a

coordinated plan and use planning time efficiently, the hazard mitigation plan

encompasses the County and all of the municipalities within the county. However, there

are local considerations that need to be taken into account for variations in risk and the

differing levels of municipal capabilities. Each municipality has a section within the Plan

to identify their local risks, capabilities, and potential mitigation projects.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan will serve as a blueprint for sustaining current initiatives and

undertaking new projects in an effort to save lives, protect community assets, and

preserve economic viability during future disasters.

Chester County




Chester County



Overview

When a disaster occurs, it affects some segments of the population more than the

other segments; the ability of a community to recover effectively from a disaster

begins with its efforts in pre-disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery capacity

building. These efforts result in a resilient community with an improved ability to

withstand, respond to and recover from disasters. The building block of hazard

mitigation is to assess the risks, determine current capabilities, and then identify areas

that can be improved upon. This Plan strives to capture County, municipal, private

sector, non-governmental, and community organizations’ capabilities to mitigate

future disasters.

Hazard mitigation is the use of long- and short-term strategies to reduce or alleviate

the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage that can result from a disaster. It

involves strategies such as planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other

activities that can mitigate the impacts of hazards. The responsibility for hazard

mitigation lies with many, including private property owners; business and industry;

and local, state and federal government.

Purpose

The purpose and intent of the Chester County Hazard Mitigation Plan is to reduce the

impact of those hazards there by lowering the losses to life, property, and the

environment caused from a future disaster event.

The federal Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) requires

state and local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for

federal grant assistance. The DMA emphasizes the importance of community

planning for disasters before they occur.

The DMA promotes sustainability as a strategy for disaster resistance. “Sustainable

hazard mitigation” includes the sound management of natural resources, local

economic and social resiliency, and the recognition that hazards and mitigation must

be understood in the largest possible social and economic context. The enhanced

planning called for by the DMA helps local governments articulate accurate

mitigation needs, resulting in faster allocation of funding and more cost-effective risk

reduction projects.

DMA compliance is only one of multiple objectives driving this planning effort.

Chester County’s long-standing tradition of proactive, progressive planning and

program implementation is enhanced by the development of this plan update.

Elements and strategies for the update were selected because they meet a program

requirement and because they best meet the needs of the citizens within Chester

County. This Plan identifies resources, information, and strategies for reducing risk

from hazards. It will also help guide and coordinate mitigation activities throughout

the county. Benefits of the planning effort include the following:

Allows the county to be proactive instead of reactive

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Focuses on sustainability in the identification of projects

Supports the other components of emergency management: preparedness,

response and recovery

Gains both political and public support for initiatives that reduce risk of

hazards

Coordinates existing plans and programs so that high-priority initiatives and

projects to mitigate possible disaster impacts are funded and implemented

Applicability and Scope

This Hazard Mitigation Plan will serve to identify the hazards that are of greatest risk

to Chester County, identify current capabilities at that municipal and County level,

and address potential mitigation actions for natural, human-caused, and technological

hazards. This Plan is designed to complement the Chester County Emergency

Operations Plan (EOP) and is not intended to supersede any emergency response

and/or continuity plans for Chester County. This Plan also builds upon the hazard

vulnerability assessment that was conducted for Chester County.

This Plan applies to Chester County, as well as all the municipalities within the

county that were a part of this planning effort. Through a coordinated plan, various

levels of government agencies and outside stakeholders can work together to reduce

the impacts of future disasters.

Mission and Goals

Mission

The mission of the Chester County Hazard Mitigation Plan is to protect lives,

property, infrastructure, and environmental and community resources by identifying

and encouraging implementation of mitigation actions to reduce impacts of disasters.

Goals

The established goals of the Chester County Hazard Mitigation Plan are for Chester

County to coordinate with municipalities and other stakeholders to:

1. Reduce the risk to public safety and public health

2. Reduce personal and property disaster losses

3. Increase disaster resilience of public and private infrastructure

4. Ensure that new and replacement construction is hazard resistant and does not

lead to increased hazard risk or exacerbate the effects of hazards

5. Identify, encourage, and implement cost effective hazard mitigation measures

6. Raise awareness of and encourage participation in hazard mitigation within the

community

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Authorities and References

Authorities The Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is authorized and enabled under the

authorities listed below:

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public

Law 93-388, as amended.

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 44, Parts 79.4, 201 and 206;

Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) of 2000, Public Law 106-390, as amended

Presidential Policy Directive 8, National Preparedness, March 30, 2011.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa CSA § 7101 et.

seq.)

Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code of 1968, Act 247 as reenacted and

amended by Act 170 of 1988.

Pennsylvania Stormwater Management Act of October 4, 1978. P.L. 864, No. 167

References Chester County Emergency Operations Plan

Chester County Department of Emergency Services, Hazard Vulnerability Analysis, July

2009

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) State Hazard Mitigation Plan

FEMA 386 Series – Mitigation Planning Documents

Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC)

Chester County Water Resources Authority

Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

Pennsylvania State Climatologist, http://pasc.met.psu.edu/PA_Climatologist/index.php

United States Census Bureau

United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA), National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

United States Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey (USGS),

National Earthquake Information Center

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Update and Maintenance

This Plan will continually evolve and will therefore need ongoing maintenance. The

Chester County Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Plan will be reviewed each March.

The Department of Emergency Services (DES) will be the lead agency for reviewing

and making minor revisions and status tracking related to the plan.

A comprehensive update will be completed every five years as outline by the Federal

Emergency Management Agency. The focus will be on validating goals, re-assessing

risks, and updating mitigation actions. Updates will incorporate lessons learned from

exercises or real incidents as outlined in After-Action Reports, an updated hazard

analysis and risk assessment as well as changes in local, state or federal planning

context, and/or examination of evolving national best practices.

Chester County

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Background


Community Background

Chester County



Chester County, Pennsylvania is vulnerable to a variety of natural, human-caused, and

technological hazard events that have the potential for causing damage to life, property

and the environment.

Chester County, by virtue of its geographic location and topography, is subject to natural

hazards such as flooding, winter storms, droughts, tornados, and earthquakes.

Historically, all of these hazards have affected or threatened the county. Major

snowstorms and flooding have the greatest potential to cause significant disruptions.

The threat of terrorism is always present; however, the human-caused and technological

hazards extend past just acts of terrorism. Increased use of transportation methods in the

Philadelphia suburbs, the increase reliance on computers and data systems, and aging

infrastructure increases the risk exposure to both human-caused and technological

hazards.

County Profile

Chester County, founded in 1682, is located in the major northeastern complex of

metropolitan areas stretching from Boston to Washington, D.C. This corridor contains the

largest concentration of population and jobs in the nation. Chester County (Figure 1) is

located in southeast Pennsylvania, west of the City of Philadelphia and covers 760 square

miles.

Chester was one of the three Pennsylvania counties, along with Philadelphia and Bucks,

initially created by William Penn on August 24, 1682. At that time, Chester County's

borders were Philadelphia County to the north, the ill-defined western edge of the colony

(approximately the Susquehanna River) to the west, the Delaware River to the east,

and Delaware and Maryland to the south. Chester County replaced the Pennsylvania

portion of New Netherland/New York’s Upland, which was officially eliminated when

Pennsylvania was chartered on March 4, 1681, but did not cease to exist until June of that

year. Much of the Welsh Tract was in eastern Chester County, and Welsh place names,

given by early settlers, continue to predominate there.

The original Chester County seat was the city of Chester, a center of naval shipbuilding,

at the eastern edge of the county. In an effort to accommodate the increased population of

the western part of the county, the county seat was moved to a more central location in

1788; the village, known as Turk's Head, was renamed West Chester. On September 26,

1789 the eastern portion of the county separated from Chester County becoming

Delaware County.

Much of the history of Chester County arises from its location between Philadelphia and

the Susquehanna River. The first road to "the West" (meaning Lancaster County) passed

through the central part of Chester County, following the Great Valley westward; with

some re-alignments, it became the Lincoln Highway and later U.S. Route 30. The first

railroad (which became the Pennsylvania Railroad) followed much the same route, and

the Reading Railroad progressed up the Schuylkill River to Reading. Industry tended to

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concentrate along the rail lines. Easy transportation allowed workers to commute to urban

jobs, and the rise of the suburbs followed.

Figure 1. Geographic Setting of Chester County (Chester County GIS, 2013)

The County shares its southeast border with the State of Delaware and its southern border

with the State of Maryland. In addition, Chester County borders Lancaster County on the

west, Berks County on the northwest, Montgomery County on the northeast, and

Delaware County on the east (Figure 2). The Schuylkill River forms the county’s

northern limits, while on the west it is partially bounded by the Octoraro Creek. The

historic Brandywine Creek forms part of its eastern border.

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Figure 2. Regional Setting of Chester County (Chester County GIS, 2013)

Valley Forge National Historical Park lies on the boundary of Chester and Montgomery

Counties. The National Park Service assumed ownership of Valley Forge in 1977, and

several improvements have been made since then to inform visitors of the significance of

this Revolutionary War site. Hopewell Big Woods National Historical Site straddles the

boundary between Chester and Berks Counties. The 100-square-mile Hopewell site is

one of the last major woodlands in the Boston to Washington, DC corridor. The

Schuylkill River Heritage Area encompasses the northern 1/3 of the county. Other

national historic sites include the Brandywine Battlefield.

The rich cultural heritage of the County is apparent by the large number of cultural

groups and organizations throughout the area. Among these offerings are the Kennett

Symphony Orchestra, Chester County Historical Society and Museum, and People's

Light and Theatre Company. The Hadley Foundation sponsors free national and

international speakers and programs in the Kennett area.

Chester County is a favorite destination of many tourists who travel the eastern United

States. One of the most beautiful and famous horticultural sites in the nation is

Longwood gardens. The gardens, a short distance from the historic Brandywine

Battlefield, were an underground railway stop and gathering place for many runaway

slaves prior to the Civil War. The gardens offer 1,077 acres of incredible indoor and

Chester County



outdoor beauty year round. Several villages in Chester County represent architectural

periods of the past and interesting farm buildings and covered bridges dot the

countryside. Another historical place of interest is the Nottingham Serpentine Barons

(630 acres), which is a part of the largest occurrence of serpentine barrens in the eastern

United States.

Chester County’s character comes from its enduring history. The county contains a

great many historic resources that have retained their historic integrity and context,

dating back centuries to our nation’s earliest settlements. The history and development

patterns of the county have helped define current land use patterns, the road system,

economics, various points of interest, and they provide an identity of place. Chester

County ranks second, only after Philadelphia, in the number of resources listed on the

National Register of historic Places in Pennsylvania.

Government Structure

A three-person Board of Commissioners administers Chester County government,

located in the county seat of West Chester. The commissioners have selective policy-

making authority to provide certain local services and facilities on a countywide basis.

Accordingly, the commissioners are responsible for the management of the fiscal and

administrative functions of the county. Pennsylvania being a commonwealth, a lot of the

right and duties reside with the municipal elected officials.

An elected body comprised of supervisors or councils (depending on the municipal

designation) governs each of the 73 municipalities (Figure 3). Each municipality is

responsible for establishing and administering municipal financial budgets and tax rates,

as well as being responsible for land use controls through zoning and subdivisions

regulations and building permits. Local officials are also responsible for providing

services related to road maintenance, police, fire, and emergency medical services.

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Figure 3. Municipalities of Chester County (Chester County GIS, 2013)

Educational Institutions

There are 12 public school districts in Chester County, ranging in size from large

suburban to small rural. The school districts provide primary and secondary education to

the residents within the County. The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) acts as a

liaison between and provides services to the school districts as well as many of the area

non-public schools. The CCIU extends services to nearly 86,000 public and non-public

school students and over 6,000 educators.

There are a number of higher education institutes within Chester County. West Chester

University is located in the County seat and has student enrollments of around 15,000

students. Lincoln University is located in the southern end of the County provides a

liberal arts and science-based undergraduate core curriculum and has numerous notable

alumni, including U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. Immaculata

University and Valley Forge Christian College are located within the County and offer

multiple theological study concentrations at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

One of Penn State’s satellite campuses, Great Valley campus, is located in East

Whiteland Township and offers a wide range of graduate level curriculums. Delaware

County Community College also has a satellite campus located in the Downingtown area.

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Population Projections

Chester County has attracted residential development in part due to its beautiful

landscapes combines with a close proximity to employment opportunities. The current

composition of the population in Chester County, from the most recent census conducted

in 2010, is outlined in Table 1.

Chester County Stats

2010 Population = 498,886

Population 55 and Older = 125,447

Number of Total Housing Units = 192,462

Number of Occupied Housing Units = 182,900

Number of Housing Units built before 1970 = 70,660

Unemployment Rate = 5.0%

Table 1. Chester County Statistics (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has prepared population

data, including projections up to the year 2040. The population within the County is

growing at a higher rate than populations in the surrounding counties as shown in Table

2.

County 2000

Census

2010

Census

2020

Forecast

2030

Forecast

2040

Forecast

% Change

2010-2040

Chester 433,512 498,886 538,809 607,407 647,330 29.8%

Bucks 597,636 625,249 654,140 692,440 727,150 16.3%

Montgomery 748,978 799,874 823,564 873,361 894,486 11.8%

Philadelphia 1,517,550 1,526,006 1,551,247 1,599,436 1,630,589 6.9%

Delaware 551,989 558,979 560,986 567,976 569,983 1.50%

SE PA Region 3,849,665 4,008,994 4,128,746 4,340,620 4,469,538 11.5%

Table 2. Regional Population Comparison (DVRPC, 2013)

The population is clustered along the major transportation corridors throughout the

county with larger numbers of people located in the eastern half of the County (Figure 4).

This clustering of the population along those transportation corridors makes transit into

Philadelphia and throughout the region easier, making Chester County a perfect location

for residents to commute to Philadelphia and other major metropolitan cities in the area.

Chester County has two distinct subculture groups. There is a large Hispanic population

in the southern half of the County. In addition, along the western border is a large

population of Pennsylvania Dutch. Both of these subcultures bring their own unique

aspect to the overall county make-up and affect the methods undertaken for hazard

mitigation.

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Figure 4. Population Density (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)

Land Use

Today, a good portion of Chester County's 760 square mile area is still used for

agriculture. However, the major portion of the county’s economy is spread through the

trade and manufacturing industries.

The existing land use pattern reflects continued suburban expansion from Philadelphia

into eastern Chester County. This development includes non-residential, as well as

residential uses, making the eastern area of the county more urban in character.

Elsewhere in Chester County, the pattern reflects the continued spread of primarily

residential development into rural areas, making them more suburban in character. The

most intensive development is located in eastern Chester County, along the Route 30

corridor through the center of the county, and along the Route 1 corridor in the south

(Figure 5).

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Figure 5. Chester County Future Land Use Plan (Chester County Planning

Commission, 2013)

Out of the approximate 490,000 acres of land in the County the existing land use in

Chester County is summarized in Table 3. The largest land use category is agriculture,

followed by residential, then by woodlands.

Land Use Approximation Summary

Agriculture – 171,000 acres

Residential – 129,000 acres

Woodlands – 128,000 acres

Commercial – 10,000 acres

Industrial – 3,200 acres

Table 3. Chester County Land Use Approximation Summary (Chester County GIS, 2014)

Economy

Chester County has traditionally enjoyed a strong, stable, and diverse economy.

Employment and other economic indicators are consistently among the best in the region,

and better than those of the state and the nation. The diversity of our economy is a major

factor in the prosperity that Chester County enjoys. Chester County contains some of the

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major employment centers of the metropolitan regions, and is no longer merely a

bedroom suburb of the city. Not dominated by a single industry or sector, the county is

less vulnerable to fluctuations in the business cycle.

Chester County ranks second in Pennsylvania, only after adjacent Lancaster County, for

farm production. The county contains productive agriculture Piedmont soils that do not

require irrigation. As a result, agriculture remains a prominent industry in the county,

especially in southern Chester County. The mushrooms grown in Chester County

provide for approximately 40% of the national consumption of mushrooms. Figure 6

depicts that revenue (in millions) of the agriculture sector. In addition, about three out of

every ten acres of protected open space in the county is farmland that has been protected

with an agricultural conservation easement.

Figure 6. Chester County Agriculture Sector: Revenue in Millions of Dollars.

(DUNS, 2011)

Industrial land use includes manufacturing uses which are located primarily in

established urban centers, such as Coatesville, Downingtown, West Chester, and

Phoenixville. Figure 7 depicts the revenue of the manufacture industry in Chester

County.

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Figure 7. Chester County Manufacture: Total Revenue (DUNS, 2011)

The county has seen an influx of corporate headquarters, industrial parks, and businesses;

particularly in the eastern and central sectors. It also includes light industrial uses, such

as assembly lines, warehouses, and research and development facilities. Commercial land

uses are concentrated in the urban centers (Coatesville City and the boroughs) and along

the major highways. The largest concentrations are near Route 202 and Route 30.

Housing

Housing that is affordable to the workforce is critical to the local economy, and directly

impacts the ability of employers to recruit and retain staff. Chester County has a range of

housing options available with a good balance of housing types, sizes, and costs. The

housing trend has followed the population and employment growth in Chester County

(Table 4).

Chester County



Year Total Units Number Change Percent Change

1930 29,655 N/A N/A

1940 33,046 3,391 11.4

1950 42,143 9,097 27.5

1960 58,974 16,831 39.9

1970 80,457 21,483 36.4

1980 110,183 29,726 36.9

1990 139,597 29,414 26.7

2000 163,773 24,176 17.3

2010 192,462 28,689 17.5

Table 4. Chester County Housing Units (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010)

Infrastructure

Chester County has experienced a population boom over the past decade due to its

popularity as a place to live and work. This population growth has led to widespread

expansion of infrastructure systems throughout the county, from public sewer and water

systems to power and cellular phone communications services. Overtime, some of this

infrastructure expansion has lacked coordinated planning.

Transportation is the artery of our daily life, as it facilitates the movement of people and

goods. The county has an extensive network of major highways (Figure 8), including the

Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76). There are 1,067 bridges and approximate 3,600

miles of roadway within the County. It is estimated by the 2010 census that 81.3% of the

Population drove to work, 7.5% carpooled, and 2.7% used public transportation.

The County has a lot of infrastructure that provides critical services to the residents. This

includes five acute care hospitals, five specialty hospitals, two correctional facilities, 23

long term care healthcare facilities, and 97 emergency response stations offering fire,

ambulance, or police coverage.

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Figure 8. Chester County Highways.

Geology and Topography

The remarkably diverse geology of Chester County has greatly influenced community

development, the economy, and infrastructure since pre-colonial times. Chester County

lies entirely within the Piedmont Geomorphic Province, split into three sections: 1) the

Newark Lowland Section along the northern boundary of the county, 2) the Piedmont

Upland Section, and 3) the Piedmont Lowland Section that forms the Great Valley

extending from West Sadsbury Township to Tredyffrin Township.

One-third of Earth's geologic history is recorded in the rocks of Chester County. The

rocks of the Piedmont Upland Section are predominantly comprised of lower Paleozoic to

Precambrian felsic to mafic gneisses and metagranite, mica schist, and isolated bands of

serpentinite and marble. The Piedmont Lowland Section is composed principally of

lower Paleozoic carbonates and lesser quantities of quartzite and phyllite. The Newark

Lowland Section includes the southern margin of the Mesozoic Rift Basin that developed

due to continental rifting of Pangaea during the early Mesozoic. The basin is filled with

mudstone, sandstone, and conglomerate, intersected by diabase dikes.

Geologic hazards in Chester County include (but are not limited to) sinkholes, landslides,

earthquakes, and radon. The diverse geology of Chester County has provided great

Chester County



mineral wealth to the county. Over 500 mines and quarries have operated in Chester

County since the mid-18th Century. The county also faces geologic hazards resulting

from the physical and chemical properties of these rocks, tectonic forces, landscape,

climate, and human influence. The carbonate rocks within the Great Valley are readily

weathered by dissolution, which produces caves and sinkholes. This region includes

hundreds, perhaps thousands, of sinkholes and enclosed depressions that lie beneath

county infrastructure such as buildings, railroads, and highways. Minor landslides and

creep are common in the mature soils of Chester County. Landslide risk is relatively low

due to the topography of the county (Figure 9), however, and is usually related to over

steepened slopes associated with urbanization and infrastructure development.

Earthquake risk in the county is low due to the relatively stable tectonic setting of the US

East Coast. Lastly, radon is a geologic health threat for the residents of Chester County.

Radon is an odorless, radioactive gas released by uranium-bearing minerals present in a

variety of rocks in the county (predominantly in the Piedmont Upper Section).

Fortunately, household radon can be mitigated by installation of a sub-slab gas extraction

system.

Figure 9. Chester County Topography (Chester County GIS, 2014)

Chester County



Hydrology

Chester County is comprised of over 760 square miles of land area lying within 21

watersheds that include nearly 2,300 miles of streams. These watersheds drain from

Chester County downstream to six counties in three states (PA, DE, and MD).

The Schuylkill River forms the northeastern boundary of Chester County and is by far the

largest stream affecting the County. The East Branch Octoraro Creek and Octoraro

Reservoir form the southwestern boundary of the County. The largest watershed within

Chester County is the Brandywine Creek watershed. Because of the size of their drainage

areas and volume of flood flows, the Schuylkill River and Brandywine Creek present the

most significant flood risks for the County. Smaller watersheds are also prone to

localized flooding including French Creek, Red Clay Creek, (East) Valley Creek, Valley

Run, and Trout Creek, among others. Across Chester County, over 250 locations of

repeat flooding problems have been identified. Five flood control dams were constructed

in Brandywine Creek watershed to reduce flood impacts to the Brandywine Creek

communities.

The streams of Chester County are fed by groundwater from underlying aquifers and

rainfall runoff. All geologic units in Chester County are considered to be aquifers and are

recharged by infiltration of precipitation through their overlying soils. The groundwater

resources and surface water resources within Chester County provide water supply for the

County. Approximately 60% of the County’s population relies on public water supplies

(from groundwater and/or surface water sources) and 40% relies on individual domestic

wells. Thus, protection of natural recharge and infiltration is essential to sustaining the

availability of groundwater and stream flows for water supplies for humans and for

aquatic and wildlife resources.

Because stream flows vary significantly based on weather conditions, public water

suppliers rely on reservoirs to provide additional flows to support surface water

withdrawals during periods of low stream flows. There are six water supply reservoirs in

Chester County (Chambers Lake Reservoir, Marsh Creek Lake, Rock Run, Octoraro

Reservoir, Pickering Creek Reservoir, and West Chester Reservoir).

Approximately 85% of the County is in watersheds that drain to Delaware Bay and the

remaining 15% is in watersheds that drain to the Chesapeake Bay. Figure 10 presents a

map of the watersheds of Chester County.

Chester County



Figure 10. Watersheds of Chester County (CCWRA, 2006)

Climate

Looking at historical trends, Chester County is characterized by a humid continental

climate that is modified by its proximity to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian

Mountains (Table 5). Most low-pressure weather systems that affect the area develop in

the Midwest and move eastward under the influence of the prevailingly westerly flow or

form in the southeastern United States and track northward along the east coast. Due to

the long overland trajectory, cold Canadian high-pressure air masses are usually

considerably modified by the time they reach this portion of Pennsylvania, picking up

warmth from the underlying land and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic

Ocean.

Chester County experiences moderately cold weather during the winter months (Table 6),

which may include snowstorms, blizzards, freezing rain, and ice. The increased

frequency of low-pressure systems and frontal passages give more cloudiness during the

winter season with limited sunshine finding its way through the clouds and reaching the

ground during this time of the year.

Chester County



Annual Climate Statistics

Average Annual Temperature: 52.12 ºF

Average Annual Precipitation: 45.98 inches

Average Annual Snowfall: 26.03 inches

Average Annual Humidity: 73.55%

Average Annual Wind Speed: 16.45 mph

Table 5. Annual Climate Statistics (NCDC, 2014)

Winter Climate Statistics (December – February)

Record High Temperature: 78 ºF (set February, 1930)

Record Low Temperature: -16ºF (set February, 1934)

Average Daytime High Temperature – Mid 40’s ºF

Average Nighttime Low Temperature- Low 20’s ºF

Average Daytime Sunshine received – <50%

Average Prevailing Wind Speed – 10mph (from the west northwesterly)

Table 6. Winter Climate Statistics, December – February (NCDC, 2014)

The first snowfall of any consequence usually occurs in late November or sometime in

December (Table 7). Usually the snow cover disappears rapidly under the relatively mild

winter temperatures. The threat of snow diminishes rapidly after mid-March.

Snowstorm Statistics

Average Annual Snowfall: 26.03 inches

Average Snow Accumulations - 5-10 inches

Record Accumulation - 30 inches (set March 21-22, 1958)

Longest Ground Coverage Period - 37 Days (set January and February 1936)

Average Days of 1 inch or more of snow: 27.4 days

Days of 6 inches or more - Est. 6 days per year

Table 7. Snowstorm Statistics (NCDC, 2014)

The summer months are generally warm and humid. Extended periods of hot and humid

weather do occur as the nearby maritime influence produces a uniform weather pattern

(Table 8). Cloud cover is at a minimum in the summer with a majority of the available

sunshine received while nights are generally clear. Most of the summer season rainfall is

supplied by thundershowers, which are recorded on the average from June through

August.

Chester County



Summer Climate Statistics (June – August)

Record High: 105 ºF (set July, 1936)

Record Low: 35 ºF (set June, 1972)

Average Temperature - 75ºF

Average Low - 50ºF

Average Daytime High Temperature – Low 80’s ºF

Average Nighttime Low Temperature- Low 60’s ºF

Average Temperature Duration – 90ºF for 22 days/per year

Average Daytime Sunshine received – 65%

Average Prevailing Wind Speed – 8mph (from the South)

Table 8. Summer Climate Statistics, June – August (NCDC, 2014)

Spring and fall are the transition periods; winds are west northwesterly at the start of

spring and back to southwesterly by late spring. As fall progresses the prevailing winds

gradually swing back to the west-northwest once again. Wind speed averages 8 to 10

mph during both spring and fall. By the latter part of April daytime highs in the 70s are

noted more and more frequently; and after the warm summer, these 70-degree

temperatures usually persist well into October. Extended periods of dry weather are

seldom experienced, but have occurred. The warm dry fall days with abundant sunshine

enhancing the autumnal change in colors represent one of the most pleasant times of the

year.

A little over one half the annual precipitation falls in the spring and summer (Table 9).

While primarily a warm season phenomenon, thunderstorms have been observed every

month of the year.

Precipitation Statistics

Average Annual Precipitation: 45.98 inches

Average Number of days with 0.1 inch or more of precipitation in a year: 78.09 days

Record Month of Precipitation – 15.58 inches (set August 1955)

Record Location of Precipitation – 8.75 inches (Downingtown Borough, 9/15/2003)

Annual Average of Summer Thunderstorms Days - 22 Days

Annual Average of Thunderstorms Days - 37 Days

Table 9. Precipitation Statistics (NCDC, 2014)

Recently tropical storms and hurricanes have been impacting the area. The major impact

from these storms are the 3 to 6-inch or more of torrential rains that cause flash flooding

problems and high speed winds. Some damages due to wind and hail associated with

severe thunderstorms are recorded somewhere in Chester County each year. While

tornados have been noted and have occurred in the past, the chances of one striking any

particular area in Chester County are slight.

Chester County

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Planning Process


Planning Process

Chester County



Chester County used the process outlined by the Federal Emergency Management

Agency (FEMA) in the local hazard mitigation planning handbook. Those steps are to

determine the planning area and resources, build the planning team, create an outreach

strategy, review community capabilities, conduct a risk assessment, develop a mitigation

strategy, and implement then monitor progress.

Determine the planning area and resources

This Hazard Mitigation Plan encompasses all of the area within the County of Chester,

Pennsylvania. The County is made up of 73 individual municipalities, each having their

own elected leadership and management structure. With the number of municipalities

and the nature of disasters to cross jurisdictional boundaries, a countywide multi-

jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan encompassing all of the municipalities would be the

most beneficial.

On August 14, 2003, the Chester County Commissioners established the Chester County

Hazard Mitigation Committee. The committee provides advice to the Board of

Commissioners, the Department of Emergency Services, and other county departments

and agencies on strategies and techniques to eliminate or reduce the loss of life,

destruction of property and damage to the environment from disasters. The committee

convenes a minimum of once annually to track implementation of the current hazard

mitigation plan.

Build the planning team

The Chester County Hazard Mitigation Committee provides a logical starting point for

forming planning teams to update the mitigation plan. The 2010 version of the mitigation

plan only focused on natural hazards. During this update, it was prudent to look at

natural hazards as well as human-caused and technological hazards. To utilize

stakeholder time efficiently two planning teams were formed which reported to the

Mitigation Committee.

The first planning team focused on natural hazards. The team was comprised of

representatives from county departments, municipalities, and other stakeholders. The

planning team composition was very similar to the planning team for the 2010 mitigation

plan. The second team focused on human-caused and technological hazards. This new

topic required developing a list of potential stakeholders that could play a major role in

the identification, response, recovery, or mitigation of human-caused hazards. A full

listing of the agencies involved with the two planning teams can be found in Appendix B.

During this plan update the municipalities were tasked with providing a greater role in

identifying the hazards within their community and areas for potential mitigation

projects. A jurisdictional assessment team convened for each municipality to address

municipal specific concerns. The jurisdictional assessment team was comprised of a

representative of Chester County Department of Emergency Services and multiple

members of each municipality. The attendees for each municipal assessment included at

least the emergency management coordinator or the municipal manager. Some municipal

Chester County



assessments included police chiefs, code enforcement officials, engineers, public works

directors, fire marshals, and/or municipal elected officials. The group of municipal staff

with diverse backgrounds enhanced the value of this plan with local knowledge

pertaining to hazards and possible mitigation projects. The municipal assessments were

conducted in person and/or virtually. The end result of each municipal jurisdiction

assessment meeting is the municipal specific sections of this plan.

During the first nine months the planning teams met monthly and the Hazard Mitigation

Committee met quarterly. After that the planning teams met every bimonthly and the

Mitigation Committee semi-annually. The entire planning process took two years to

complete. The concentrated meetings in the beginning of the planning process allowed

for the majority of the risk assessment, review of capabilities, and mitigation strategies to

be developed. After that information was discussed and decided upon, the meeting

schedule expanded to allow time for the municipal specific assessments to occur as well

as time to develop the plan. After the plan was developed, the committee meetings

focused on involvement of the public in review of the entire draft plan.

Create an Outreach Strategy

The Mitigation Committee sought contributions from everyone that would be impacted

by disasters within the County. The public plays a major role in hazard mitigation. The

public is always invited to attend the Hazard Mitigation Committee meetings. A public

notice is placed in the local newspaper, on the county website, and on social media prior

to any Hazard Mitigation Committee meeting. Additionally for this update, the public

was involved in three different phases of the plan update.

Phase 1. The first major interaction with the public came during the risk assessment

process. A public survey was developed to collect data on the public view of the hazards

of greatest concern for Chester County. A ten question survey was developed in which

the public selected what they felt are the top hazards in both the natural hazards and the

human-caused hazard categories. The survey also asked the respondents which, if any,

hazards they have experienced while living in Chester County. The public was then

given the opportunity to provide ideas of potential mitigation actions to address those

hazards. Lastly, the survey allowed a mechanism for those interested to leave their

contact information for further inclusion in the planning process.

The survey was disseminated to the public through press releases, emailing to all of the

County’s emergency management partners, posting on county and municipal websites,

flyers at libraries and municipal offices, and through social media. Multiple local

newspapers, a local radio station, municipal newsletters, and other community mailings

contained information about the survey. The survey was open for a ten week period and

received 2,069 public responses. Graphs of the overall responses from the public survey

can be found in Appendix C. Results from the survey suggested some overall mitigation

actions; 731 people suggested planning efforts, 573 suggested educations efforts, and 294

thought additional communications and warning would help reduce the impact from

future disasters. Twenty-five percent of the people that participated in the survey left

their contact information for further follow up about the mitigation planning.

Chester County



Phase 2. Those who left their contact information were utilized as the next phase of

incorporating the public in the planning process. As sections of this plan were developed

they were reviewed by the planning teams, then the section was sent out to those

members of the public to provide comment. Having a small group of members of the

public review sections of the plan while it was being developed provided the opportunity

to change some content and identify additional areas to expand upon prior to the full first

draft of the plan being complete.

Phase 3. Upon completion of the draft plan, the third phase of public involvement was

implemented. The entire draft plan was published for review by the public. The review

process was advertising through multiple methods. Initially it was advertised through

press releases, emailing to the county’s emergency management partners, positing on

county and municipal websites, and though social media. Multiple local newspapers,

municipal newsletters, and other community mailings contained the information about

the plan availability. A form for submitting comments on the plan accompanied the draft

plan and provided an organized method to collect those comments.

Review community capabilities

Hazard mitigation planning should include review and incorporation, if appropriate, of

existing plans, studies, reports and technical information. Due to the makeup of the

Commonwealth and individual municipalities having substantial power, the laws and

ordinances in effect within each municipality are outlined in the municipal specific

section of the plan. An assessment of the County’s regulatory, technical, and financial

capabilities to implement hazard mitigation initiatives is outlined in Capabilities and

Mitigation Strategy Section.

Conduct a risk assessment

One of the key elements to the hazard mitigation planning process is the risk assessment.

In performing a risk assessment, a community determines which hazard may occur, how

often it is likely to occur, and potential impact from that hazard. The primary

components of a risk assessment that answer these questions are generally categorized

into the following measures:

Hazard Identification and Screening

Hazard Profiling

Assessing Vulnerability to Hazards

The risk assessment for Chester County and the municipalities within Chester County

was performed using a countywide, multi-jurisdictional perspective. An integrated

approach was employed because many of the same hazards are likely to affect numerous

jurisdictions, and are rarely contained to a single jurisdiction. The vulnerability analysis

was performed in a way such that the results reflect vulnerability at both an individual

jurisdictional and countywide level.

Chester County



The culmination of the risk assessment process resulted in a revised list of hazards that

will be carried forward with this updated mitigation plan, which include:

Natural Hazards

Thunderstorms

Flooding (including stormwater floods)

Winter storms

Tornadoes and Windstorms

Drought

Human Caused and Technological Hazards

Public gatherings

1. Civil disobedience

2. Conventional/improvised bombs

3. Armed attacks

Transportation

1. Transportation accidents

2. Hazardous material releases

3. Extended utility data or telecommunication outages

Industrial locations


2. Cyber terrorism


The hazard identification process, hazard profiles, risk assessment process, and an outline

of which hazards were purposely omitted from this assessment are outlined in further

detail in the Risk Assessment Section. Each municipality was given an opportunity to

change the risk priority for their specific jurisdiction. Any change to the countywide risk

priority is outlined in their individual municipal specific section.

Develop a mitigation strategy

Hazard mitigation is the use of long- and short-term strategies to reduce or alleviate the

loss of life, personal injury, and property damage that can result from a disaster. It

involves strategies such as planning, policy changes, programs, projects, and other

activities that can mitigate the impacts of hazards. It is important to coordinate the

various potential mitigation actions so that they are working in conjunction with each

other. An overall mission and five goals have been developed and refined to guide the

development of mitigation actions.

Chester County Mitigation Plan Mission Statement

The mission of the Chester County Hazard Mitigation Plan is to protect lives,

property, infrastructure, and environmental and community resources by identifying

and encouraging implementation of mitigation actions to reduce the impacts of

disasters.

Chester County



Goals are general guidelines that explain what is to be achieved. They are broad-based,

long-term, policy-type statements, and represent global visions. Goals help define the

benefits that the plan is trying to achieve. The success of the hazard mitigation plan

should be measured by the degree to which its goals have been met.

Chester County Mitigation Plan Goals

1. Reduce personal and property disaster losses within Chester County

2. Increase disaster resilience of public and private infrastructure

3. Ensure that new construction is hazard resistant and does not lead to increased

hazard risk or exacerbate the effects of hazards

4. Identify, introduce, and implement cost effective hazard mitigation measures

5. Raise awareness of and encourage participation in hazard mitigation within the

community

Each one of the mitigation actions that was developed works toward meeting the goals

and overall mission of the hazard mitigation program. The mitigation strategy and the

countywide mitigation actions are outlined in the Capabilities and Mitigation Strategy

Section. Each municipality has additional, community specific, mitigation actions

outlined in their individual municipal specific section.

Implement the Plan

The Hazard Mitigation Committee is charged with monitoring, evaluating, and updating

all components of this plan. The committee is comprised of a variety of municipal,

county, region, state, and federal stakeholders. The Department of Emergency Services

serves as the leadership for the committee.

The Committee will oversee the progress made on the implementation of the identified

action items and update this plan, as needed, to reflect changing conditions. The

Committee will therefore serve as the focal point for coordinating the countywide

mitigation efforts. The Committee will meet at least once per year. Additional meetings

may be held as needed, particularly in the update process of this plan.

At the annual meeting of the Hazard Mitigation Committee the focus should include at

least the following topics:

Update historical events record based on any events in the past year.

Review county profile and note any major changes and their effect on proposed

mitigation projects

Review accomplishments or progress made toward mitigation projects.

Address any updated major plans and their effect on this plan to include the Basic

Emergency Operations Plan, dam plans, and Landscapes (Comprehensive Plan)

Review any current or potential funding opportunities

Produce a report card to be published to the general public of progress against

goals and any specific targeted milestones that have been identified

Chester County



The Committee will monitor the mitigation activities as outlined in this plan. This will be

conducted through a variety of methods to include firsthand knowledge by involvement

in projects and reviewing reports from the other agencies that are responsible for

implementation of the different mitigation actions. Monitoring will not only include

checking whether mitigation actions are implemented or not, but also assessing their

degree of effectiveness. A review of qualitative and quantitative benefits (or avoided

losses) of the mitigation activities will serve as the basis of the evaluation process. The

results will then be compared to the goals and objectives this plan set out to achieve. The

Committee will also evaluate mitigation actions if they need to be discontinued, or

modified in any way in light of new developments in the community. The Committee

will provide feedback to outside agencies as necessary.

Keeping the plan current includes keeping the public involved in hazard mitigation. The

County’s program of keeping the public involved in overall emergency management

serves as a mechanism to continue to raise the community’s awareness of hazard

mitigation, this plan, and the actions identified in this plan. Chester County continually

engages in community activities through a variety of different forums to work towards

the goal of continued public involvement in all areas of emergency management.

Another partner in the County’s mitigation program is the Chester County Long Term

Recovery Committee. While that committee is focused on addressing the needs of the

community post-disaster, the committee will be able to identify areas in which hazard

mitigation will be beneficial.

This plan will receive a major update every five years, as required by the Disaster

Mitigation Act, 2000. The updated plan will account for any new developments in the

community or special circumstances (e.g. post-disaster). Issues that come up during

monitoring and evaluation that require changes in mitigation strategies and actions will

be incorporated in the plan during that update process. The Mitigation Committee will

form the base group that will be involved in updating the plan, with the responsibility for

writing and leading the plan update falling with the Department of Emergency Services.

Minor updates to the plan might need to occur during that 5-year update cycle

particularly if a Presidential Disaster Declaration impacts Chester County, a hazard event

causes loss of life, or if a major update is made to a related plan which impacts this plan.

It will not be the intent of this update process to start from scratch and develop a

completely new hazard mitigation plan. Based on the needs identified by the planning

team, this update will, at a minimum, include the following elements:

Update County demographic and socioeconomic data

Address any new planning documents, ordinances, codes, etc. that have been

developed by the County or cities

The hazard risk assessment will be reviewed and updated using best available

information and technologies

Identify and address how changes in development have impacted each

jurisdiction’s vulnerability

Chester County



The mitigation actions will be reviewed and revised to account for any initiatives

completed, dropped, or changed, and to account for changes in the risk

assessment

Review hazards that were omitted from previous hazard mitigation plans and

identify any new hazards within the County to determine potential change in

impact from those hazards

The draft update will be sent to appropriate agencies and organizations for

comment

The public will be given an opportunity to comment on the update prior to

adoption

Review and Adopt the Plan

The first step in reviewing this plan is having the team members review each section as it

was developed, and then presenting sections of the plan to the small group of the general

public identified as being interested in the mitigation plan in the initial public survey.

After the entire plan was completed, the plan went through a public review process

allowing members of the public to comment and provide input into the draft plan prior to

the plan being sent to the state and the federal government for their review.

The public review process included making the plan available on the County’s website,

hard copies in municipal offices, as well as hard copies in the libraries within the County.

Along with the copies of the plan was a form for the public to submit their comments on

the plan. As a part of that review process, public meetings were held. The meetings were

structured to provide an overview of the plan and process and allow members of the

public time to discuss their comments on the plan and provide feedback to be included

into the final edit of the plan.

After the plan goes through the state and federal review process, and receives approval

pending adoption from the federal government, all jurisdictions outlined within this plan

will go through the local process for formally adopting the plan. A governing body’s

formal adoption of a Hazard Mitigation Plan is a prerequisite to receiving the Federal

Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) final approval. Adoption of this plan by

Chester County and its municipalities allows each municipality to be eligible for disaster

mitigation grant funds and, also provides each municipality with a thorough

understanding of its vulnerability to various hazards and a blueprint for mitigating

damaging effects.

While developing and updating this plan, certain sections of the County Comprehensive

Plan, Emergency Operations Plan, and various land use ordinances and regulations

provided key information. The County and each participating municipality is responsible

for implementing the specific mitigation actions recommended in this plan into the

necessary planning documents, including the appropriate comprehensive plan, the County

Emergency Operations Plan, and any land use ordinances and regulations.

Chester County

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Risk Assessment


Risk Assessment

Chester County



Risk assessment is the process of measuring the potential loss of life, personal injury,

economic injury, and property damage resulting from hazards. It focuses on the following

elements:

Hazard Identification

Hazard Profiles

Identify Community Assets

Analyze Risk

Identify hazards of concern

The risk assessment in this plan evaluates the risk of hazards likely in Chester County.

The update of this plan expanded upon the 2010 version of the plan by beginning to

assess human-causes risks, not only risks from natural hazards. The risks identified and

profiled are applicable to all of the jurisdictions within the planning area. If any

exceptions exist to the identified hazards for a specific municipality, those exceptions are

outlined in the municipal specific section of the plan.

Hazard Identification

Hazard identification is the systematic process of using available information to

determine which hazards are likely to affect a jurisdiction.

The Hazard Mitigation Committee considered the full range of natural and human caused

hazards that could impact the county. The selection of hazards of concern was based on

the following criteria:

The 2010 version of the Chester County Hazard Mitigation Plan

The 2009 Chester County Hazard Vulnerability Analysis

The Pennsylvania State Hazard Mitigation Plan

Historical events

Local knowledge and perception of hazards

Chester County Emergency Operations Center Logs

For this update, the list of hazards identified in the 2010 version of the plan were

reviewed with the goal of refining the list to reflect the natural hazards that pose the

greatest risk to the jurisdictions represented by this plan. The plan also begins to explore

the effects of human-caused and technological hazards. Human-caused and technological

hazards were only assessed at the countywide level and not at each municipal specific

level. The next update of the plan will attempt to capture natural, human caused, and

technological hazards for all jurisdictions.

A portion of the hazard identification phase is examining historical events that have

occurred in Chester County. Table 10 is a comprehensive list of declared disasters that

have occurred in Chester County.

Chester County



Event Declarations

Type/Name Date County State Federal (For Chester County)

Winter Storms Feb 1958 * X

Winter Storms Jan 1966 * X


Hurricane Agnes Jun 1972 * X Presidential Major Disaster

Flood July 1973 * * Presidential Major Disaster


Drought Nov 1980 X X

Fire Feb 1989 * SBA Physical Damage and Economic

Injury

Flood July 1989 * SBA Physical Damage and Economic

Injury

Fire Aug 1992 * SBA Physical Damage and Economic

Injury

Winter Storms/Blizzard Mar 1993 * X Presidential Major Disaster

Winter Storms Jan 1994 * X Presidential Major Disaster

Drought Sept 1995 * X

Flooding Jan 1996 * X Presidential Major Disaster

Drought July 1999 * X Agricultural Disaster

Hurricane Floyd Sept. 1999 * X Presidential Major Disaster

Fires May 2001 * SBA

Drought & Water Shortage Feb 2002 * X

Winter Snow Storm Feb. 2003 * X Presidential Emergency Declaration

Tropical Storms Henri and

Isabel

Sept. 2003 X X Presidential Major Disaster

Tropical Depression Ivan Sept. 2004 X Presidential Major Disaster

Severe Storms/Flooding June 2006 X X Presidential Major Disaster

Fires Nov 2007 SBA Physical Damage and Economic

Injury

Coatesville Arson Fires Jan 2009 X SBA Physical Damage and Economic

Injury

Flooding Aug 2009 X SBA Physical Damage and Economic

Injury

Winter Snow Storm Feb 2010 X X Presidential Major Disaster

Tropical Storm Nicole Sept 2010 X X Presidential Major Disaster

Hurricane Irene Aug. 2011 X X Presidential Major Disaster

Tropical Storm Lee Sept. 2011 X X Presidential Major Disaster

Drought April 2012 SBA: Agricultural Disaster

Hurricane Sandy Oct. 2012 X X Presidential: Direct Federal Assistance

Winter Snow/Ice Storms Feb. 2014 X X Presidential: Direct Federal Assistance

- Power

SBA: Economic Injury

Table 10. Declared Disasters (County, PEMA, FEMA, 2014) * unknown if a declaration was made

Chester County



Hazard Profiles

Once potential hazards posing a risk to Chester County were identified, a profile was

created for each hazard. The profiles aid in determining the impact of these events on the

people, property, environment, and economy if one of the hazards were to occur in

Chester County. Each profile includes at a minimum the location and extent of hazard

impact, past occurrences, and probability of future frequency and severity of that hazards.

In addition the profile outlines the warning time, duration, and potential impact that are

associated with that hazard.

Environmental, social, and economic health is essential to disaster resilience. Climate

change can affect natural hazards, which can result in damages and hardships for a

community, county, region, and the state for years following the event. Climate change is

not in itself a hazard, however it has the ability to intensify or change the occurrence

patterns of other hazards. Some climate change impacts include sea level rise, extreme

storm events, and increased flooding, drought, and wildfire. Hazard mitigation includes

both short-term and long-term actions to reduce the severity of the effects of these

hazards. Risk analysis helps to identify the steps necessary to reduce climate change

impact.

Chester County



Natural Hazards

Drought and Water Supply Deficiencies

Drought is a natural climatic condition caused by an extended period of limited

precipitation beyond that which occurs naturally in a broad geographic area. High

temperatures, high winds and low humidity can worsen drought conditions, and can make

areas more susceptible to wildfire. Human demands and actions can also hasten drought-

related impacts. Drought conditions typically do not cause property damages or threaten

lives, but rather drought effects are most directly felt by agricultural sectors. At times,

drought may also cause community-wide impacts as a result of acute water shortages

(regulatory use restrictions, and drinking water supply shortages). The magnitude of such

impacts correlates directly with local groundwater supplies, reservoir storage, and

development densities.

Location and Extent

There are 16 water purveyors, several homeowners associations, and numerous private

wells supplying the residents of Chester County. Primary water sources include the

Octorara and Schuylkill Rivers, the east and west branches of the Brandywine Creek, and

Pickering Creek. The entire County is susceptible to the impacts of a drought.

Severity, Warning Time, and Duration

Prolonged dry periods could adversely affect available water sources and cause drought

situations. Chester County has experienced periods of abnormal precipitation in the past,

the longest period having been five years. Impacts from droughts can range from

agricultural impacts to impacting the entire community. Droughts develop over weeks to

months. The extended time that it takes for droughts to develop allows ongoing

monitoring and the ability to anticipate a future drought. However, once a drought occurs

the drought can last for weeks to months.

Past Occurrences

Chester County has been affected by eight drought emergencies since 1960 (Table 11).

During drought periods, households experience low water pressure and conservation

measures are usually implemented. Because of the rural nature of parts of the county,

agricultural areas can be greatly affected.

Date Description

1961-1966 Longest hydrologic drought of record.

1976-1977 Meteorological drought (normal 30 inch frost line increased to five feet.)

1980-1981 Hydrological-drought (county declared emergency).

1983 Agricultural drought (Presidential/ Governor's declared emergency).

1988 Meteorological drought.

1995 Governor declared emergency.

1999 Governor declared emergency, Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant

Program was amended to include all 67 counties for an agricultural disaster.

2002 Governor declared emergency.

Table 11. Drought Emergencies in Chester County since 1960 (NCDC, 2014)

Chester County



Probability of Future Frequency

Lengthy periods of inadequate precipitation could lead to droughts and related water

deficiencies. Quality monitoring and maintenance measures will hopefully decrease the

possibility of any water management drought. The Chester County Groundwater

Monitoring well network assists in the anticipation of droughts.

Regardless of monitoring and maintenance measures, water conservation should become

an everyday practice. In 2002, the Chester County “Watersheds” Plan was adopted by the

Chester County Board of Commissioners as a component of the County’s “Landscapes”

comprehensive land use policy plan. The “Watersheds” Plan included a countywide water

supply plan component that assessed existing and potential sources of public and

individual water supplies, and presented current and future (2020) projected water

demands and implementation strategies.

An impact on all natural hazard and especially drought is climate change. Although

global precipitation is expected to increase somewhat due to climate change, the main

effects anticipated will be a redistribution of where and when precipitation falls. For

water management and drought, changes in seasonal distribution of precipitation may be

more consequential than changes in the annual total. Precipitation certainly matters, but

the role of temperature in drought cannot be neglected. Higher temperatures have the

same effect as reduced precipitation. The general implication of increased warmth is a

greater frequency or more drought-like condition.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. Changes in water quality and the environmental impacts of drought

can have serious consequences for human health. Particularly when drought is prolonged

or accompanied by high heat conditions, the impacts on both mental and physical health

can be significant. Those residents that rely on a private well for their water can end up

not having any potable water, even if there is water available from the commercial water

providers.

Infrastructure. Droughts have the potential to impact all the citizens and all of the

critical infrastructure within the county. Monetary losses associated with a drought

generally center around agricultural losses and economic losses to businesses who rely

heavily on a large water source.

Economy. Drought conditions can negatively affect agriculture, water supplies, energy

production, and many other aspects of society. The impacts vary depending on the type,

location, intensity, and duration of the drought. For example, effects on agriculture can

range from slowed plant growth to severe crop losses, while water supply impacts can

range from lowered reservoir levels and dried-up streams to major water shortages.

Lower stream flow and groundwater levels can also harm plants and animals, and dried-

out vegetation increases the risk of wildfires. The impact to the agricultural sector can

raise prices on food and other basic household needs for all citizens.

Chester County



Earthquake

Most earthquakes are caused by the release of stresses accumulated as a result of the

rupture of rocks along opposing fault planes in the Earth’s outer crust. Deformation along

plate boundaries causes strain in the rock and the consequent buildup of stored energy.

When the built-up stress exceeds the rocks' strength, a rupture occurs. The rock on both

sides of the fracture is snapped, releasing the stored energy and producing seismic waves,

generating an earthquake. Earthquakes can affect hundreds of thousands of square miles,

cause damage to property measured in the tens of billions of dollars, result in loss of life

and injury to hundreds of thousands of persons, and disrupt the social and economic

functioning of the affected area.

Earthquakes are measured in terms of their magnitude and intensity. Magnitude is

measured using the Richter Scale. Each unit increase in magnitude on the Richter Scale

corresponds to a 10-fold increase in wave amplitude, or a 32-fold increase in energy.

Intensity is most commonly measured using the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale

(Table 12) based on direct and indirect measurements of seismic effects. The scale levels

are typically described using roman numerals, with a I corresponding to imperceptible

(instrumental) events, V corresponding to moderate (felt by people awake), to XII for

catastrophic (total destruction).

Table 12. Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale

Most property damage and earthquake-related deaths are caused by the failure and

collapse of structures due to ground shaking. The level of damage depends upon the

amplitude and duration of the shaking, which are directly related to the earthquake size,

distance from the fault, site of the quake, and regional geology. Other damaging

earthquake effects include landslides, the down-slope movement of soil and rock

(mountain regions and along hillsides), and liquefaction, in which ground soil loses the

ability to resist shear and flows much like quick sand.

Location and Extent

Pennsylvania is located in a seismic risk zone whereby minor and/or moderate earthquake

damage may be expected. The County lies in proximity to Philadelphia, where from

1980 to 1984 five minor earthquakes occurred, affecting Philadelphia City and the

northern suburbs. Very little quake activity has occurred since 1984 with only four minor

incidents happening in the region. Should the activity greatly intensify over the years,

Chester County may be affected by residual tremors.

Although earthquakes in the Commonwealth are a rare occurrence historically causing no

injury or severe property damage, the crust of the earth is constantly shifting. The

majority of the larger earthquakes that have been felt in Chester County were residual

tremors cause by earthquakes in the surrounding areas.

Chester County




The intensity of the earthquake is an unpredictable factor and directly relates to the

severity of damage that will be sustained. In the northeast region of the United States, the

composition of the geology does not lend itself to creating large earthquakes. However,

the dense rocks transmit shockwaves a long distance away. There is no warning time for

an earthquake and the duration of the quake is very short. Even with the short duration,

there is the potential for major damage from an earthquake.

Past Occurrences

Chester County has three fault lines running through its boundaries. The Martic Line runs

east to west, cutting across Route 100 just south of Route 30. The Huntingdon Valley

Fault is located just below the Martic Line. The Rosemont Fault originates in Delaware

County and arcs through the eastern portion of Chester County.

The only sizeable earthquake activity that occurred in Chester County was a 3.6

magnitude earthquake that occurred in Sadsbury Township on 12/17/1752. Shockwaves

from earthquakes in surrounding areas have been felt in Chester County. Most recently,

shockwaves were felt in Chester County from a 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered in

Richmond, Virginia.


Earthquakes should continue to pose little threat to Chester County, with long intervals

between any possible occurrences. Figure 11 shows the earthquake probability zones as

well as the historical earthquake epicenters within the region.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. Earthquakes have the ability to cause loss of life. The loss of life

usually occurs from building collapses as a result of the quake. Depending on the size of

the earthquake, there could be anywhere between minimal to major damage to private

residences.

Infrastructure. Critical infrastructure is also susceptible to damage from an earthquake.

Due to the limited historical occurrences of earthquake, a majority of the buildings do not

take large earthquakes into considerations during the construction phase or have not been

retrofitted specifically to withstand earthquake forces.

Economy. The economic impact from earthquakes is directly related to the loss of

services provided by critical infrastructure. Damaged infrastructure and damaged

transportation pathways causes a ripple effect on the ability for other businesses to

remain open and for the residents to access those businesses.

Chester County



Figure 11. Seismic Hazard of Eastern Pennsylvania (USGS, 2014)

Chester County



Extreme Temperatures

The hazard of extreme temperatures is primarily a threat to human life and health, though

they are also hazardous to livestock and agricultural crops. Occasionally extreme

temperatures might threaten property and infrastructure. They might also exacerbate the

impact of other hazards such as severe weather events that cause widespread power

outages.

Extreme heat is defined as temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the

average high temperature for the region and that last for an extended period of time.

Humid conditions might also add to the discomfort of high temperatures.

Extreme cold is a dangerous situation that can bring on health emergencies in

susceptible people, such as those without shelter, who are stranded, or who live in a home

that is poorly insulated or without heat. Extreme cold conditions often accompany severe

winter storms that cause power outages, creating extremely dangerous situations for those

relying on electricity for heat.

Location and Extent

Extreme temperatures impact the entire county at the same time. While there are minor

fluctuations in climate within the County, those fluctuations would not be severe enough

for the extreme temperature to impact one portion of the county and not another portion.


The severity of the extreme temperatures is directly related to how hot or cold it gets

along with the length of time that extreme conditions occurs. Weather forecasts can

usually predict the extreme temperatures at least a day or two in advance. That lead time

provides an opportunity to prepare for the extreme weather. Forecast models are getting

better at forecasting the onset of extreme temperatures, but they are not as accurate when

it comes to predicating how long a multiple day event will last. One or two days of an

extreme temperature does not cause major issues to the community. When three or more

days of sustained extreme temperatures occur, that is the point that the residents begin to

become impacted.

Past Occurrences

Extreme heat has occurred multiple times within Chester County. The majority of the

extreme heat events coincide with the historical droughts that are outlined in Table 11 in

the drought profile. While the drought and the extreme heat do not occur for the same

length of time and you can have one without the other, the majority of droughts have a

period of extreme heat associated with them.

Extreme cold is a common occurrence during the winter months. Cold temperatures

along with wind chills are frequent in the middle of winter. The extreme cold can occur

during a winter storm but most commonly occurs by itself. The greatest hazard from the

extreme cold is to those individuals that do not have a warm place to sleep or spend time

during the day.

Chester County




It is certain that extreme heat and cold events will continue to impact the County. The

unknown factor is the severity and the length of those events.

The economy factors into the number of people that might be affected by extreme

temperatures. As prices increase to heat and cool a home those who are unable to afford

the increased costs, such as those on fixed incomes, have a higher likelihood of not

maintaining temperatures within their home. If home owners cannot afford daily costs

for heat, during a period of extreme cold they will be impacted greater that other

segments of the population.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. The young, elderly, and ill are most at-risk during extreme

temperatures. Pets and those who work or exercise outdoors are also at risk. Power

outages have potentially life-threatening consequences during periods of extreme heat, as

excessive demands for electricity can overwhelm local utilities and force intentional load

shedding. Health risks from extreme heat include heat cramps, heat fainting, heat

exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat killed more people than lightning, tornados, floods, and

hurricanes combined. However, most deaths are attributed to prolonged heat waves in

large cities that rarely experience hot weather.

Extreme cold conditions that cause power outages, creates an extremely dangerous

situations for those relying on electricity for heat. When people search for alternate

heating methods such as space heaters and stoves to stay warm, increasing the risk of

household fires. People also utilize generators improperly during power outages and

extreme temperatures, creating the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning and

electrocution. Health risks to those exposed to extreme cold conditions include

hypothermia and frostbite which require prompt medical care. Persons most at-risk

include infants and the elderly with inadequate clothing or shelter, as well as those who

remain outdoors in the cold for long periods such as the homeless, outdoor laborers,

hikers, and hunters. There is also a chance of property damage from extreme cold events

due to pipes freezing and rupturing.

Infrastructure. The impact to critical infrastructure will arise when the extreme

temperatures create a high demand for power usage. That high demand on power could

lead to the need for the power companies to shed load to meet the demands. In the event

load shedding is required, one of the main focuses will be to keep critical infrastructure

under full power to meet the needs of the community.

Economy. Power outages as a result of the extreme temperatures could impact the

economy by not allowing businesses to operate. The other potential impact would be

agricultural losses when temperatures remain at extremes for long durations of time.

Chester County



Flooding

Flooding is the most frequent and costly natural hazard in the United States. Floods are

generally the result of excessive precipitation, and can be classified under two categories:

general floods, precipitation over a given river basin for a long period of time; and flash

floods, the product of heavy localized precipitation in a short time period over a given

location. The severity of a flooding event is typically determined by a combination of

several major factors, including: stream and river basin topography and physical

geography; precipitation and weather patterns; recent soil moisture conditions; and the

degree of vegetative clearing and impervious surface. Generally floods are usually long-

term events that may last for several days. The primary types of general flooding include

riverine, coastal, and urban flooding. Riverine flooding is a function of excessive

precipitation levels and water runoff volumes within the watershed of a stream or river.

Flooding can also occur from snow melt in the spring or ice jamming on the rivers in the

winter. Urban flooding occurs where manmade development has obstructed the natural

flow of water and decreased the ability of natural groundcover to absorb and retain

surface water runoff.

Most flash flooding is caused by slow-moving thunderstorms in a local area or by heavy

rains associated with hurricanes and tropical storms. However, flash flooding events may

also occur from a dam or levee failure within minutes or hours of heavy amounts of

rainfall, or from a sudden release of water held by a retention basin or other stormwater

control facility.

The periodic flooding of lands adjacent to rivers, streams and shorelines (land known as

floodplain) is a natural and inevitable occurrence that can be expected to take place based

upon established recurrence intervals. The recurrence interval of a flood is defined as the

average time interval, in years, expected between a flood event of a particular magnitude

and an equal or larger flood. Flood magnitude increases with increasing recurrence

intervals, and floodplains are designated by the percent chance per year that a flood is

large enough to cover them. For example, the 100-year flood has a 1 percent chance of

occurring in any given year. The 500-year flood has a 0.2 percent chance of occurring in

any given year.

Location and Extent

Approximately 80 percent of Chester County is located in the Lower Delaware River

Basin. Flooding in this basin has been a result of extensive development in floodplain

areas. The remainder of Chester County is located in the Susquehanna River Basin. This

basin is represented mainly by the Octorara Creek Watershed which has been subject to

less developmental pressure.

Seventy-two of the 73 municipalities in Chester County are in floodplains; Honey Brook

Borough is the only municipality without a 100-year or 500-year floodplain. Figure 12

shows the floodplain in Chester County.

Chester County




Due to the rolling landscape and low water capacity of the soils and underlying rocks,

flooding due to runoff from a heavy rainfall may be more severe in a stream valley.

Floods may occur during any month of the year, although they occur with greater

frequency in the spring months of March and April due to a combination of rainfall and

snowmelt. In addition to local flooding from severe thunderstorms during the summer

and fall, storms of tropical origin sometimes deposit flood-producing rains. Flooding

associated with snow melt has a greater warning time than flooding associated with

thunderstorms.

Monitoring of National Weather Service products allows for a day or more lead time for

traditional riverine flooding. The forecasts have the potential for making an error in the

exact path or amount of water that is going to fall in a particular area, which can

drastically change the effects seen from flooding. Riverine flooding typically starts hours

after the storm has left the area and can last for hours up to a day. The water rise and fall

associated with riverine flooding is typically a slower process.

Flash flooding has less warning time since is it usually associated with small pop up

thunderstorms. Flash flooding usually will subside shortly after the storm has passed and

the stormwater systems are able to catch up with diverting the large amount of water.

Past Occurrences

Chester County has been affected by flooding relatively frequently in the past. Specific

areas where flooding has caused problems in the past are those locations abutting the

Schuylkill and Brandywine Rivers, as well as several creeks within the County (e.g.

White Clay, French, Octorara, Red Clay and Elk). Flash flooding has been seen in the

more urbanized areas of the County predominantly due to large amounts of water falling

that are greater than the stormwater systems are designed to handle at once.


Within the flood susceptible areas of Chester County, it is expected that the character of

flooding will not diminish over the coming years. Protection against flood damage and

loss can be greatly decreased by monitoring weather patterns, forecasts, stream and rain

gauges, and historical statistics.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. Flood related injuries or facilities are a possibility with the cause

generally relating to residents being caught in flood prone areas and being unable to

safely get out of the flood waters. Within Chester County there are approximately 4,900

buildings on 3,000 parcels that are within the 100-year floodplain and 1,100 buildings on

800 parcels in the 500-year floodplain. The assessed value of the structures within the

floodplain is $900 Million and $400 Million respectively. If a flood event occurs outside

of the floodplain the potential loss to property would increase. There is a risk of sewage

ending up in flood water and after a flood event there is a risk of mold build up in flooded

homes that are not properly cleaned out; both posing a health risk to residents.

Chester County



Infrastructure. With any flood event there is the likelihood of damage to critical

infrastructure. The majority of the critical infrastructures in the floodplains are

transportation networks such as roadways. The forces behind flood waters can easily

damage roadways and their foundations. Very few critical facilities are located within

the 100 year or 500 year floodplain. There are a total of 12 critical facilities that are

located in a 100 year floodplain. These include 2 day cares, 1 police station, 1 ambulance

station, 1 fire station, 6 churches and 1 major industrial plant. Flash flooding and urban

flooding have the potential to bring flood waters into an area that is not as well mapped

out and pose a slight risk to impacting other critical infrastructure.

Economy. The economy is impacted by businesses that have their facility flooded and

transportation routes that are closed due to flooding. The rail and air transportation

networks are usually not impacted by flooding. While most of the flooded roadways will

re-open in a short period, damaged road infrastructure from the forces of water can last

for a long period of time.

Repetitive and Severe Repetitive Loss

Several federal government programs encourage communities to identify and mitigate

“repetitive loss” and “severe repetitive loss” properties. Nationwide, repetitive loss

properties make up only 1 to 2 percent of the flood insurance policies currently in force,

yet they account for 40 percent of the flood insurance claim payments.

FEMA identifies repetitive loss and severe repetitive loss structures based on flood

insurance payments. A repetitive loss property is one in which two or more paid out

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims of at least $1,000 each are made within

10 years of each other. A severe repetitive loss property is one that has at least four paid

out claims over $5,000 each or two payments which the cumulative amount exceeds the

market value of the building.

According to the list of repetitive loss properties maintained by FEMA, as of June 2012,

Chester County has 136 identified repetitive loss and 23 severe repetitive loss properties.

These properties are outlined within each of the municipal specific sections of this plan.

All of the repetitive loss and severe repetitive loss properties are on the list of potential

hazard mitigation action to either elevate the structure out of the floodplain or to acquire

the property and demolish the structure.

Sixty-nine of the seventy-three Chester County’s municipalities participate in the

National Flood Insurance Program. All of those municipalities have adopted the

minimum standards required by the NFIP, however many of them have implemented

stricter ordinances when it comes to building in the floodplain. There are municipalities

within the County that have ordinances prohibiting any building within the floodplain at

all.

Chester County



Figure 12. FEMA Floodplains in Chester County. (FEMA, 2014)

Chester County



Hurricane and Tropical Storm

Hurricanes and tropical storms are defined as any closed circulation developing around a

low-pressure center in which the winds rotate counter-clockwise in the Northern

Hemisphere (or clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere) and whose diameter averages 10

to 30 miles across. The primary damaging forces associated with these storms are high-

level sustained winds, heavy precipitation that causes inland flooding, and tornados.

The majority of hurricanes and tropical storms form in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea

and Gulf of Mexico during the official Atlantic hurricane season, which encompasses the

months of June through November. The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is in early

to mid-September.

As a hurricane develops, barometric pressure at its center falls and winds increase. If the

atmospheric and oceanic conditions are favorable, it can intensify into a tropical

depression. When maximum sustained winds reach or exceed 39 mph, the system is

designated a tropical storm, given a name, and is closely monitored by the National

Hurricane Center. When sustained winds reach or exceed 74 mph the storm is deemed a

hurricane. Hurricane intensity is further classified by the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which

rates hurricane intensity in categories on a scale of 1 to 5, with category 5 being the most

intense. The Saffir-Simpson Scale categorizes hurricane intensity linearly based upon

maximum sustained winds, barometric pressure and storm surge potential, which are

combined to estimate potential damage.

Categories 3, 4, and 5 are classified as “major” hurricanes, and while hurricanes within

this range comprise only 20 percent of total tropical cyclone that make landfall, they

account for over 70 percent of the damage in the United States. Damage during

hurricanes might also result from spawned tornados, storm surge, and inland flooding

associated with heavy rainfall that usually accompanies these storms.

Location and Extent

The entirety of Chester County becomes impacted when a tropical event comes into the

area. The low lying areas are more vulnerable to the flooding caused by the storm and

the wooded areas are more vulnerable to the high winds causing tree damage. The vast

amount of the commercial power network is above ground, which makes the entire

county vulnerable to power outages due to falling trees and wires. The amount of

damage that is sustained is directly related to the size and the intensity of the storm when

it reaches the County. The intensity has usually decreased due to the distance the storm

has to travel across land prior to impacting the county.


In regards to hurricanes, by the time most storms reach Pennsylvania they fail to satisfy

the definition of a hurricane (75 mph winds). However, Chester County has been affected

by the secondary effects (mainly heavy rainfall) of more than 20 hurricanes in the last 80

years. Winds from hurricanes and tropical storms seldom reach destructive speeds in

Chester County, although widespread minor damage sometimes results from a

combination of heavy rain and strong winds.

Chester County



The hurricane developing in the tropical area of the Atlantic Ocean gives plenty of time

to see tropical weather develop and make its way toward Pennsylvania. The forecasting

of tracks has improved, so it is easy to see 3 to 4 days out if there is a possibility of

tropical storm impact to the area. Once it is determined that a storm will impact our area,

the exact track contains some assumptions built into the models which causes some error

so it is hard to determine the anticipated amount of damages based on that track.

However, once it is determined that a tropical storm is going to impact our area there is

time to plan and prepare for the storm. Once a tropical storm begins to impact the

County, the duration of the storm itself is usually less than 24 hours. The effects of

flooding as a result of the storm can last for a few days.

Past Occurrences

The most severe impact from tropical storms/hurricanes occur in the Delaware River

Basin. The worst storms occur when a hurricane joins a tropical storm on the coastline,

forming a storm with two major storm centers. Such was the case during Hurricane Diane

in August 1955. Another recent hurricane that impacted Chester County was Hurricane

Irene in 2011.


From 2010 through 2014, Chester County has felt the impact from three tropical events,

Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and Super Storm Sandy. The recent increase in

tropical events shows that there is a high probability that Chester County will feel the

impact of additional tropical events in the future. The size and severity of the damage

caused by those events is the unknown factor.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. The entire county has the potential to be impacted by a tropical

event. Certain locations within the county are more prone to having wind damage from

such a storm and certain properties within the county are more prone to being impacted

by floods created by the rain from that type of event. The impact to structures can be

seen in the flooding and the thunderstorm hazard profiles.

Infrastructure. In addition to the wind and flood hazards, critical infrastructure has the

potential to lose power. The loss of power would force critical infrastructure onto

generator power and make them more vulnerable to a disruption of the supply chain (such

as fuel) and other impacts from the event. Transportation networks could be impacted by

a tropical event, compounding the issues for those facilities that are not on commercial

power.

Economy. The economy is impacted from the loss of services due to closed

transportation networks from flooded roads and downed trees and wires. The services

provided by the businesses can be interrupted due to a loss of power.

Chester County



Thunderstorms

A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, or a thundershower,

is a type of storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on

the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. Thunderstorms are usually accompanied

by strong winds, heavy rain and sometimes snow, sleet, hail, or no precipitation at all.

One of the main hazards with thunderstorms is lightning. Lightning is a discharge of

electrical energy resulting from the buildup of positive and negative charges within a

thunderstorm, creating a “bolt” when the buildup of charges becomes strong enough.

While most often affiliated with severe thunderstorms, lightning often strikes outside of

heavy rain and might occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

Hail develops when a super cooled water droplet collects a layer of ice and continues to

grow, sustained by the updraft. Once the hail stone cannot be held up any longer by the

updraft, it falls to the ground. Hail up to 2.75 inches in diameter, nearly the size of a

baseball, was reported in northern Chester County in 1995, according to the NCDC.

Location and Extent

The entire County is susceptible to thunderstorms. Thunderstorms historically move

across the county from the southwest to the northeast and are more common in the spring

and summer months.


There is moderate warning time for thunderstorms. The National Weather Service is

good at predicting when a thunderstorm will impact the region. There is some

uncertainty as to the exact timing and the intensity of the storm when it hits a specific

town. That uncertainty is what makes it hard to plan for when and where the damages

will occur. Thunderstorms are capable of bringing localized damages due to strong winds

and hail as well as wide spread damages from downed trees and flash flooding. The

duration of the storm itself is usually short lived in any area of the County, but the effects

from the storm can be felt for one to three days after the storm depending on its severity.

Past Occurrences

Multiple thunderstorms every year impact Chester County. Thunderstorms have caused

power outages across the county and others have caused major localized damages. Due

to the nature of thunderstorms there has not been widespread major damage seen across

the entire county from one storm. No thunderstorm has ever created the need to declare a

disaster, but they have caused the Emergency Operations Center to open to support the

needs of the public and municipalities following the storm.


Thunderstorms will continue to occur in Chester County. The size and the intensity of

the storm as well as the portion of the county that is impacted will determine the amount

of damage and the disruption felt from those storms.

Chester County



Potential Impact

Life and Property. Injuries from thunderstorms are centered around lightning, fire, and

wind incidents. There is the possibility of fatalities occurring from damages caused by

thunderstorms or from lightning strikes. Damaging winds from thunderstorms sometimes

occur, although damages by fire caused by lightning are considered more frequent and

costly. Damage caused by hail can be costly to property owners depending on the size

and the intensity of the hail.

Infrastructure. There is little impact to critical infrastructure as a result of

thunderstorms. Critical facilities might be individually impacted by the storms, but there

is little chance for widespread impact to infrastructure. Any impact to multiple facilities

would be due to a loss of power.

Economy. Impact to the economy would be related to short term closures of roads due to

downed power line and trees. The agriculture industry can be heavily impacted by hail.

Nationally, hailstorms cause nearly $1 billion in property and crop damage annually, as

peak activity coincides with peak agricultural seasons. Lightning strikes have the

potential to shut down a business until the damage is repaired.

Chester County



Tornados and Wind Storms

A tornado is a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud

extending to the ground. Tornados are most often generated by thunderstorm activity

(but sometimes result from hurricanes and other tropical storms) when cool, dry air

intersects and overrides a layer of warm, moist air forcing the warm air to rise rapidly.

The damage caused by a tornado is a result of the high wind velocity and windblown

debris, also accompanied by lightning or large hail. According to the National Weather

Service, tornado wind speeds normally range from 40 to more than 300 mph. The most

violent tornados have rotating winds of 250 mph or more, and are capable of causing

extreme destruction and turning normally harmless objects into deadly missiles.

The damage caused by tornados ranges from light to disastrous, depending on the

intensity, size, and duration of the storm. Typically, tornados cause the greatest damage

to structures of light construction such as residential homes (particularly mobile homes).

The Enhanced Fujita Scale for Tornados was developed to measure tornado strength and

associated damages; the scale ranges from an EF-0 to an EF-5, with EF-5 being the most

destructive.

Wind is defined as the motion of air relative to the earth’s surface, and the hazard of

extreme wind is commonly associated with severe thunderstorm winds (exceeding 58

mph) as well as tornados, hurricanes, tropical storms and nor’easters. Extreme winds can

also occur in the absence of other definable hazard conditions, events often simply

referred to as windstorms. Extreme wind events might occur over large, widespread

areas or in a very limited, localized area. They can occur suddenly without warning, at

any time of the day or night.

Straight-line winds, which in extreme cases have the potential to cause wind gusts that

exceed 100 mph, are responsible for the most frequent wind damages. One type of

straight-line wind, the downburst, can cause damage equivalent to a strong tornado.

Extreme winds pose a significant threat to lives, property and infrastructure due to direct

wind forces but also flying debris, such as rocks, lumber, fuel drums, sheet metal, and

loose gear of any type that can be picked up by the wind and hurled with great force.

Extreme winds also down trees and power lines that often result in power outages across

an affected area.

Location and Extent

Tornados and windstorms are common occurrences in the Commonwealth, especially

during the spring and summer months. According to the National Climatic Data Center, a

total of 738 tornados have struck Pennsylvania. The southeast portion of the state is one

of the areas most prone to tornados and windstorms.


Past experience has been that the winds of destructive force are generally produced by

thunderstorms and tornados. Wind velocities from any of these may reach in excess of

50 miles per hour, but relatively small areas of the county are affected at any one time.

Straight line winds have occurred multiple times in Chester County causing localized

Chester County



damage. The warning time for tornados and windstorms is very short to no warning time

at all. While there is little to no warning time, the storms are usually very short in

duration. Regardless of the short duration of the storm, major damages can occur in that

short period of time.

Past Occurrences

Chester County is included in the 14 Pennsylvania counties designated as areas of higher

tornado frequency. There have been numerous occasions that tornado watches or

warnings were issued, occasionally resulting in high winds, rain, and/or hail. These

tornados have created minor damage in the county with localized power failures lasting

up to four hours. There have been 27 total tornados recorded in Chester County, five

being EF-2 and two being EF-3 tornados. Figure 13 shows the historical tornados in

Chester County and the estimated path they took from their beginning to end point.


The frequency of tornados and the effects of windstorms occurring in the county should

remain fairly constant. Tornado activity is unusual, but there have been historical

occurrences of EF-3 tornados in Chester County. The potential for future tornados

should not be discounted. June and July are the most likely months for tornado activity.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. According to the National Climatic Data Center, from 1916 through

2007, three fatalities occurred in Chester County as a result of tornados. One fatality

occurred in 1955, the other two in 1979. There is always the possibility of loss of life in

future tornado and windstorm events. Damages from windstorms, and lightening to

property could be sporadic, tornados have to the potential to take out a wide area of

property and cause major damage.

Infrastructure. Damages from windstorms, and lightening to critical infrastructure are

going to be isolated and limited in the geographic footprint that is affected. Tornados are

the only one of those three that has the potential to take out a wide area of buildings and

critical infrastructure. What is more likely to impact the critical infrastructure in the

county is the effects of loss of power and blocked transportation routes due to the storm.

Economy. The economy is slightly impacted by windstorms and lightening. A tornado

has the potential to cause severe disruption to the economy. Depending on the size and

the path of the tornado, large areas of infrastructure, transportation networks, homes, and

business could be damaged or destroyed. Residents displaced by a tornado might not be

able to make it to their work location, impacting staffing for employer.

Chester County



Figure 13. Confirmed Tornados in Chester County (Storm Prediction Center, 2014)

Chester County



Winter Storms

A winter storm can range from moderate snow over a period of a few hours to blizzard

conditions with blinding wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. Some winter

storms might be large enough to affect several states, while others might affect only

limited, localized areas. Many winter storms are accompanied by low temperatures and

heavy and/or blowing snow, which can severely impair visibility and disrupt commerce

and transportation. Occasionally heavy snow might also cause significant property

damages, such as roof collapses.

Winter storms may include snow, sleet, freezing rain, or a mix of these wintry forms of

precipitation. Sleet are raindrops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground

which usually bounce when hitting a surface and do not stick to objects; however, sleet

can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists. Freezing rain is rain that falls

onto a surface with a temperature below freezing, forming a glaze of ice. Even small

accumulations of ice can cause a significant hazard, especially on roadways, power lines

and trees. An ice storm occurs when freezing rain falls and freezes immediately upon

impact on trees, power lines, communication towers, structures, roadways, and other hard

surfaces. Communications and power can be disrupted for days, and even small

accumulations of ice might cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.

Location and Extent

The entire county is impacted when a winter storm enters the region. The ability exists

for there to be variations of the amount of snow fall or ice accumulation across the

county. Due to the freeze line determining where the precipitation will fall as snow

versus rain, there have been times when half of the county received snow and the other

half received only rain.

Winter storms typically occur in Chester County from late November through mid-April,

with peak months being December through March. Nor’easters are one type of severe

winter storm that typically bring high winds along with heavy precipitation.


Snow, more so than sleet or freezing rain, accounts for a considerable portion of the

colder season precipitation. Amounts usually total 20 to 30 inches per year; however, that

much and more have occurred in individual months. Most of the snow occurs during

December through March, although measurable amounts have been observed as early as

mid-October and as late as mid-April.

Although snowfall within the county varies from place to place, somewhat greater

amounts are found in the northern and western sections, especially on the higher

elevations. The ground is usually snow covered about one-quarter of the time during the

winter season, with amounts of one inch or more covering the ground about 27 days

annually, with an average annual snowfall of 26 inches.

The majority of winter storms give a day or two lead-time, and forecasting has the ability

to anticipate the amount of snow or ice fall within the county. The exact amounts can be

Chester County



difficult to forecast, especially when the freeze line is close to or within the county. The

actual snow fall from winter storms is usually over within 12-24 hours. For a purely

snow event the public works departments are able to plow the roads open within one to

two days after the snow has stopped. When the winter storm brings trees and power lines

down, response and road clearance times becomes extended.

Past Occurrences

Chester County has experienced major winter storms of varying magnitudes. These

storms have caused power failures, loss of communication networks, road closings, and

stranded motorists. Since 1950, the county has experienced numerous major winter

storms. Most recently in 2014, Chester County was impacted by a major ice storm that

left over 90% of the county without power. The multitude of power lines and trees down

along with snow, ice, and cold weather complicated the utility restoration process. The

record recorded snowfall in Chester County in one day is 25.98 inches, established on Jan

8th

1996 in Glenmoore, PA.


It is reasonable to expect the number and severity of winter storms to remain fairly

constant over future years. It is only through continuing public education and

preparedness that future winter storms will be made less dangerous and more tolerable to

the residents of Chester County.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. Snow does not usually create any large amount of physical damages

to property, occasionally roof collapses can occur from a large heavy snowfall. The

largest impact from winter storms is from ice accumulation. Ice building up can put a lot

of weight onto power lines, trees, and other structures. The additional weight causes

trees to fall into power infrastructure as well as residential homes and businesses. Loss of

power during winter storms can pose a health risk to those that rely on electric heat and

those who use other means to attempt to heat their homes such as kerosene heaters. The

risk of house fire increases as well as the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from

improper ventilation and improper use of generators.

Infrastructure. Snow does not usually create any large amount of physical damages to

critical infrastructure. The largest impact from winter storms is from the loss of power

and inability to utilize the transportation infrastructure.

Economy. The largest impact to the economy is the decreased ability to traverse the

transportation networks during winter storms. Usually the transportation networks are

cleared of snow within a day or two, the compounding effect of multiple days of snow

closures over one winter can cause a cumulative effect on the economy.

Chester County



Human-Caused Hazards

Armed Attacks

An armed attack is an assault on a person or location utilizing a weapon. Armed attacks

are usually carried out using a firearm. Attacks involving bombs or explosives are

covered in a separate hazard profile below. Attackers can range anywhere from one

person with no pre-planning to multiple people with extensive pre-planning. Some

attackers plan to not survive the attack, while others wish to survive with the possible

intent of executing further attacks.

Location and Extent

The entire county is susceptible to an armed attack occurring within a facility or at a

public gathering. An armed attack is traditionally contained to one location so the

potential to impact multiple municipalities is low. The event would be localized to

usually a few buildings at most. The exception would be one person carrying out a series

of attacks on multiple locations prior to being caught. Armed attacks can occur at any

location but locations with more people gathered together would make a more likely

target for an attack.


There might be little to no warning time for this type of incident. The only warning time

that would be present is if there was intelligence that was received about the planning of

such an event. The duration for these events are usually short. The law enforcement

officers throughout the county have received extensive training on how to deal with

active shooters as well as barricaded subjects, and others with weapons who are trying to

inflict harm. The duration or the incident could last a few days if the same actor has

repeat attacks prior to being apprehended or the attack could be very short. Intelligence

sharing through local and regional partners including the Delaware Valley Intelligence

Center will help identify the potential for these types of attacks and provide a greater lead

time for the incident.

Past Occurrences

Violent crimes have occurred in all areas of the country. Table 13 below outlines some

of the crime statistics for Chester County in recent years. The numbers in the table below

include statistic for crimes both with and without weapons.

Year Criminal Homicide Robbery Assaults

2010 8 189 520*

2011 8 197 529*

2012 14 175 1,750

2013 5 170 1,604

Table 13. Chester County Crime Statistics (PSP Statistics, 2014)

*The data for 2010 & 2011 listed “Aggregated Assaults” where the data for 2012

& 2013 listed “Assaults”

Chester County




Violent crimes will continue to occur throughout the County every year. There is always

the potential for an armed attack on a business or public gathering. Across the country

there has been an increase in the number of active shooter incidents and there is the

potential that a similar event could occur in Chester County. While we may not be able

to prevent an attack, it is well within our ability to lessen the likelihood and/or the

potential effects of an incident. Information sharing, early detection, and community

awareness can help in preventing these types of attacks.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. There is a high probability for injuries or loss of life to occur from

an armed attack. The loss of life and injuries would occur in a localized area where the

attack is occurring. There is little chance for major damage to property to occur.

Infrastructure. The only impact that would occur to infrastructure would be if the armed

attack occurred at a critical infrastructure facility.

Economy. There is little impact to the economy from an armed attack. The only impact

would be related to the mental impact of the residents in the surrounding community.

Chester County



Civil Disturbance

A civil disturbance is defined as any incident which disrupts community affairs, threatens

the health and safety of the population, or causes the destruction of property. Civil

disorders include the following: terrorist attack, bomb threats, riots, strikes, or

demonstrations which may encompass large portions of the community.

Location and Extent

Civil disturbance can occur anywhere in the county, but is more likely within the more

populated centers in the county. The more populated boroughs have a greater likelihood

but they also typically have a local police force, unlike some of the more rural areas of

the county.


The severity of civil disturbances can range from minor to major, which directly

corresponds to the issue that is creating the disturbance. Some incidents cause no impact

to the community and are a peaceful demonstration. The majority of the civil

disturbances provide little to no warning prior to them starting. The ones that do provide

some warning are usually the peaceful demonstrations such as labor strikes, however

those demonstrations can last for a long period of time. The violent civil disturbances

traditionally do not have any warning time, but are short-lived.

Past Occurrences

Because of the rural nature of Chester County for most of its history, residents have not

experienced any major civil disorders. There have been a number of sporadic incidents,

none of which have affected large numbers of the total population. Most of the incidents

have been relatively localized and short-lived and focused in the more populated urban

centers within the county. A list of civil disorders that have occurred since 1973 is given

below.

1. Labor disputes have caused unrest, violence, injunction and/or strike situations.

Major incidents occurred at Diversified Printing, National Rolling Mills, Kennett

Square NVF, Bishop Tube, Mathey-Bishop, and Lukens Steel. In addition, there

was some unrest experienced in 1991, during attempts to unionize the migrant

workers in the Kaolin Mushroom Co. in southern Chester County.

2. The nationwide truckers strike in 1979 brought violence to the Route 30 Bypass

near Coatesville.

3. A Chester County Prison cell fire in 1982 caused moderate disruption. A large

number of people were affected by smoke inhalation and a number of guards were

sent to the hospital.

4. Commuters have been affected by SEPTA Rail strikes

5. There was a hostage situation in West Goshen in 1983. Hostage situations happen

approximately once or twice every couple of years.

6. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, there were multiple reports of

anthrax contamination throughout Chester County, which resulted in evacuations.

Anthrax contamination could not be confirmed in any of the incidents.

7. Incidents related to the conflict between Right to Life and Pro-Choice advocates.

Chester County



Other civil disorders have occurred throughout Chester County. However, the impact of

these other incidents on local residents was minimized due to the moderate size of the

incident and quick response of the agencies/parties involved.


Civil disorders in Chester County should not increase significantly. However, population

growth and urbanization may increase the probability of civil disorders.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. Damage to property from violent civil disturbances can occur, but is

usually limited to a small geographical area. The damage can range from personal

property such as cars and homes to public property. There is the potential for multiple

minor injuries from a civil disturbance as well as a few major injuries or fatalities.

Infrastructure. There is a limited impacted to critical infrastructure. The only impact

would be if the infrastructure was directly in the area of the civil disturbance or if the

peaceful demonstration was occurring at the facility.

Economy. Peaceful demonstrations have the potential to cause a greater impact to the

economy. Peaceful demonstrations usually do not cause physical damage to the

community but can cause disruption to the transportation of commodity flow throughout

the county and the accessibility of some of modes of transportation such as the rail

network.

Chester County



Conventional/Improvised Bombs

An explosive weapon, such as a bomb, the warhead of a missile, or an artillery shell

would be considered conventional. All such weapons contain explosive material which

explodes when suitably triggered. In conventional weapons, the explosive material is

something that can undergo some chemical reaction which proceeds extremely quickly

and releases a lot of energy. Basically it can ‘burn’ so fast that it explodes. The first

explosive material used in weapons was gunpowder; nowadays more powerful explosives

like TNT and C-4 are used.

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) can be almost anything with any type of material

and initiator. It is a "homemade" device that is designed to cause death or injury by using

explosives alone or in combination with toxic chemicals, biological toxins, or

radiological material. IEDs can be produced in varying sizes, functioning methods,

containers, and delivery methods. IEDs can utilize commercial, homemade or military

explosives.

They are unique in nature because the IED builder has had to improvise with the

materials at hand. Designed to defeat a specific target or type of target, they generally

become more difficult to detect and protect against as they become more sophisticated.

IEDs fall into three types of categories:

Package Type IED

Vehicle-Borne IEDs (VBIEDs)

Suicide Bomb IED

Though they can vary widely in shape and form, IEDs share a common set of

components and consist of the following:

A switch/trigger

An initiator (fuse)

Main charge (explosive fill)

A power source for the switch/trigger

A container

Location and Extent

The entire county is susceptible to a bombing occurring within a facility or at a public

gathering. The potential to impact multiple municipalities is low, only if multiple bombs

were used would multiple locations be impacted at the same time. Bombings can occur

at any location but locations with more people gathered together would make a more

likely target for an attack.


Bombs can cause moderate to severe damage. The damage is usually in close proximity

to where the bomb was placed. There is little to no warning time for a bomb detonation.

The bomb detonation occurs very quickly, but additional “secondary” devices, and/or

diversionary activities may be used. This would lengthen the duration of the hazard until

the attack site is determined to be clear.

Chester County



Past Occurrences

A bomb was discovered in the West Goshen Shopping Center in June 1984. More

recently, a series of bomb threats occurred during the early 2000’s in northern Chester

County. Over twenty individual explosive devices were discovered over an eighteen

month period. There was also an explosive device found in a West Chester Parking

garage within 2012. The threats associated with those devices resulted in evacuations,

traffic rerouting, and destruction of personal property.


There is always the possibility of a bombing in Chester County. The size, location, and

impact caused by a bomb are not predictable. While we may not be able to prevent an

attack, it is well within our ability to lessen the likelihood and/or the potential effects of

an incident. Information sharing, early detection, and community awareness can help in

preventing these types of attacks.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. There is a high probability for injuries and loss of life to occur from

a bombing. The loss of life and injuries would occur in a localized area where the bomb

was located. There is usually property damage associated with bombs, but is centered in

a localized area immediately surrounding the location of the bomb.

Infrastructure. The only impact that would occur to infrastructure would be if the

bombing occurred within a critical infrastructure facility.

Economy. The largest impact to the economy would be from the mental impact to the

residents and the community. A bombing could create an uneasy feeling in the public

causing them to change their daily routines. That change in routine has the ability to

impact the economy.

Chester County



Cyber Terrorism

While the broad reach of cyberspace has done much to improve communication,

innovation, and information, its largely open and unregulated nature also leaves Chester

County vulnerable to cyber threats. A cyber incident or the threat of such an event is an

adverse event that occurs in an information system and/or network. A cyber-attack is an

incident that is intentional and malicious in nature. An attack occurs when the digital

infrastructure of a person or organization is compromised, often for financial or terror-

related reasons. The growing dependence on digital infrastructure means that even a

small incident at a targeted location may have widespread impacts.

Cyber-attacks can take the form of data breaches, crippling viruses, or even damaging to

physical technology infrastructure. Cyber-attacks differ by motive, attack type, and

perpetrator profile. Motivating factors for cyber-attacks can vary tremendously; however

most attacks fall into one of the following three categories: cybercrimes, hacktivism, and

cyber espionage. Six forms of cyber-attacks are presented in Table 14 below.

Cyber Attacks Attack Vectors Description of Attack

Spoofing Phishing A person or program successfully masquerades as

another by falsifying data and thereby gaining an

illegitimate advantage

Tampering Defacement Modification of data. Example: modification of

website content or appearance can lead to propagation

of misinformation

Repudiation Insider Challenging authenticity. Example: account

compromise or unauthorized access to information

technology—data, emails, or network access—leading

to altering data integrity

Information

Disclosure

Data Leak The unintentional or intentional release of secure

information—possibly private or confidential data—to

an untrusted environment

Denial of

service

Distributed

Denial of

Service (DDoS)

An overwhelming number of false requests intended to

prevent any legitimate service from functioning

properly

Elevation of

Privilege

Malicious code Exploitation of a bug or design flaw, sometimes in an

operating system, software application, database or

website, which allows a user to gain higher levels of

access to resources

Table 14. Forms of cyber attacks

Location and Extent

Unlike other hazards associated with specific geographic locations, the internet is

accessible remotely from any location. Attacks that affect Chester County can originate

from anywhere adding an additional layer of complexity to protection. The targets of

these attacks can be very large corporations, governments, or even individuals; in fact,

anything that is digitally connected is technically vulnerable. Specific target sectors that

might result in countywide effects include:

Chester County



Financial centers

Government buildings

Media outlets

Transportation authorities

Power/Utilities companies

Telecommunications networks


Successful cyber-attacks can range from causing minor to severe effects. The attacks that

would cause severe impacts are ones that attack multiple control systems at the same time

for multiple critical infrastructure. The severe attacks are very complicated and very

difficult to carry out successfully. Cyber-attacks occur with little to no warning;

generally, the duration for such attacks last minutes to days, but large-scale events can

last even longer. Multiple attacks in succession could draw out the length of the attack.

Past Occurrences

Nuisance cyber-attacks, viruses, and attempts at phishing are part of daily operations for

many information technology departments. Recently there were a few instances of

Denial of Service attacks that occurred throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania region.

There has been no major successful attack against large systems or computer networks

that caused an impact to the community.


The probability of a cyber-attack is difficult to calculate due to the unpredictability of

human behavior. There is always the chance of malicious attacks against computer

systems. Network security, which moderate to large scale companies have established

lessens the ability to successfully carry out an attack. The smaller companies and

homeowners do not pose a large target due to not having large amounts of critical data or

infrastructure. Companies that have redundancies in place lessen the impact and system

down time that could occur from a cyber-attack.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. There is little impact directly to human life or physical property

from a cyber-attack. All of the impact to lives would be felt through disruption of

infrastructure and the economy.

Infrastructure. There could be major impact to some or all critical infrastructure within

the County, depending on the target of the attack. The reliance upon computer

controllers, power distribution networks, and the communications infrastructure places all

critical infrastructure at risk during cyber-attacks. Infrastructure could experience loss of

power, system controllers, and other critical systems needed to keep the infrastructure

running.

Economy. The economy could be majorly impacted by a cyber-attack. Financial records,

order processing, and many other systems that keep the economy running are computer

based. If those systems are impacted by a cyber-attack or if there is a loss of services

from critical infrastructure, the economy could be severely impacted.

Chester County



Dam Breaches

Dam failure is the breakdown, collapse, or other failure of a dam structure characterized

by the uncontrolled release of impounded water that results in downstream flooding. In

the event of a dam failure, the energy of the water stored behind even a small dam is

capable of causing loss of life and severe property damage if development exists

downstream. There are varying degrees of failure; an unexpected or unplanned dam

breach is considered one type of failure. A breach is an opening through a dam which

drains the water impounded behind it. A controlled breach is a planned, constructed

opening and not considered a dam failure event.

Dam failure can result from natural events, human-induced events, or a combination of

the two. Natural occurrences that may cause dam failure include hurricanes, floods,

earthquakes, and landslides; human induced actions may include the deterioration of the

foundation or the materials used in dam construction or malicious attacks.

Dam failure presents a significant potential for disaster, in that significant loss of life and

property would be expected in addition to the possible loss of power and water resources.

The most common cause of dam failure is prolonged rainfall that produces flooding.

Failures due to other natural events such as earthquakes or landslides are significant

because there is generally little or no advance warning. The best way to mitigate dam

failure is through the proper construction, inspection, maintenance, and operation of

dams, as well as maintaining and updating Emergency Action Plans.

Location and Extent

Any dam has the potential for creating a major disaster. There are a number of potentially

hazardous dams in the Commonwealth. Rapid thaw in the spring, poor maintenance,

severe thunderstorms, or rain are factors that may facilitate an actual dam break. Within

Chester County there are 36 dams that meet the state’s definition of a high hazard dam.

Of those there are thirteen that meet the category 1 criteria meaning there is a substantial

population at risk (numerous homes or small businesses or a large business or school) in

the inundation zone. In addition, two dams in neighboring Berks County present a

potential for impacting Chester County if they fail. Figure 14 shows the dam inundation

zones for the dams within Chester County.


Vulnerability of any community is increased by the mere existence of a dam. Proper

maintenance and extensive planning for a potential break greatly reduces the risk factors

involving dam disasters. Dam failures usually occur with little or no notice, wreaking

havoc on an unsuspecting community. After a dam failure, the water would flow

downstream, so the duration of water present in any one area would be short. The

amount of water behind the dam when it breached would determine how far downstream

the water would travel before being able to be held by the stream banks and the amount

of time it would take for the water to reach that point.

Past Occurrences

There have been no dam failures in the history of Chester County.

Chester County




Because of the tremendous dangers resulting from any dam break, measures are being

taken to keep probability to a minimum. Chester County is always in the process of

evaluating dam data and updating Emergency Action Plans (EAP) which include

evacuation plans for the areas potentially affected by a dam breach. Currently, there are

no dams that do not have an EAP. There is a constant five-year update cycle to the

EAPs, so at any time there might be a handful of dams that do not have a “current” plan

which is one that is less than five years old.

The nature of having dams present within the county allows time for pre-planning of

worse case scenarios. The purpose of the EAP is to outline the agencies that would be

involved in responding to a dam breach, their roles, and the trigger points in which those

agencies would be notified. The plan also establishes requirements when the dam owner

must begin 24 hour surveillance of the dam and thresholds that the County must be

notified to give advanced warning to the potential for a dam failure.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. The largest impact to the community will be if there is a breach of

one of the “Category 1” dams within the county. There is a chance for loss of life and

injuries as well as major property damage to the structures that are within the inundation

zone. The amount of warning time and the ability to evacuate the pre-identified

inundation zone would directly correlate to any injuries and fatalities that occurred.

Infrastructure. The only infrastructure that would be impacted would be those within

the inundation zone. Also, any roads or bridges that are within the inundation area have

the potential to become damaged.

Economy. The largest impact would be loss of function of the dam. If the dam was

created for recreation, power generator, or water treatment purposes, those functions

could cease to exist. After a dam breach, the water that was behind the dam would pass

downstream; the only long term road closures would be related to any roads or bridges

that were washed out from the inundation waters. In addition, any businesses that were

lost as a result of the water released would incur costs due to loss of function and

rebuilding.

Chester County



Figure 14. Chester County Dam Inundation Zones (GIS, 2014)

Chester County



Extended Utility, Data, or Telecomm Disruptions

Energy emergencies include both fast-developing fuel shortages (such as those caused by

an oil embargo, a power outage, or a natural gas outage) and creeping shortages caused

by rising costs of fuel and electricity. Fuel shortages can also be caused by local

imbalances of supply. For example, the nationwide balance may sometimes appear

satisfactory on paper, but temporary misdistribution can cause fast-developing local

hardships. Strikes and severe cold weather, for example, can disrupt home heating fuel

movement and cause regional shortages.

Utility, data, and telecomm disruptions can also be caused by other factors such as

transportation accidents, intentional attacks on the systems, or caused by a natural hazard

event. With the increased reliance of the community on technology, any long term

disruptions could pose a great threat.

Location and Extent

The entire County is subject to the impacts from an extended utility, data, or telecomm

outages. Unintentional acts usually only impact one or two utilities in a small area.

Intentional attacks have the potential to impact multiple systems simultaneously and

cover a large geographical area.


The cause of the disruption plays a major factor into how long the disruption will last.

Motor vehicle accidents and unintentional disruption due to digging traditionally only

impact a small area and are of short-duration. Intentional attacks against the utility

systems can cause widespread problems and have the potential to last for a long period of

time. In addition, a shortage of energy in one form (e.g. natural gas) can create shortages

in other fuel substitutes (e.g. propane or heating oil). The cascading effects of a utility

outage, such as inability to operate water and wastewater treatment plants, could cause

compounding impacts.

Past Occurrences

During the fuel crisis of 1972-73, Chester County experienced the same effects as the rest

of the nation, including long lines at the gas pumps and problems of providing fuel

supplies for emergency personnel and vehicles. These effects were again experienced in

1979 with the advent of the "odd-even" system.

There were no other human-caused events that created long term or widespread utility,

data, or telecomm outages. Some larger natural hazard event such as the 2014 Ice storm

interrupted utilities for over a week. Small disruptions have occurred due mainly to

accidents involving utilities; those instances however have only had impact limited to

localized areas.


The potential always exists for a transportation accident to impact the utility

infrastructure. The systems are designed with redundancies in place, so the isolated

Chester County



impact of a single transportation accident has a very low likelihood of impacting more

than a small section of utility service.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. With this type of hazard, not much physical damage would occur to

residential property as a result of the loss of the utilities. Injuries or fatalities could result

from residents trying to compensate for the loss of utilities such as running generators or

other heating devices improperly.

Infrastructure. Critical infrastructure has the potential to suffer large impacts. The

impacts are most likely to be related to loss of function of the facility or damage caused

from cascading events such as loss of a coolant system.

Economy. With increasing reliance upon data networks, the loss of data infrastructure

could cause major economic problems. Impacted facilities could lose valuable data.

There is little if any physical impact to structures, transportation networks, or the

agriculture sector.

Chester County



Fires

Fire, whether human-caused or natural, is an ongoing hazard affecting many communities

daily. Fires can be caused by natural events such as lightning strikes, however this

accounts for only a limited number of fires. Within Chester County from 2008 through

2013, investigations have determined that only 32 out of 1519 fires have resulted from

natural causes. The remaining causes of fire fall into either intentional, unintentional, or

undetermined/under investigation categories.

Location and Extent

Fire has been and will continue to be a problem of great concern to Chester County.

Urban and suburban expansion continues to create multiple family dwellings and

industrial complexes vulnerable to potential fire hazards; also, the threat of arson cannot

be overlooked.

In the past 20 years a number of fires caused by arson were the result of two serial

arsonists. In 1999/2000 there were multiple fires in the Kennett Square area caused by

arson and in 2008 there were multiple fires in the Coatesville area caused by arson. In

addition to arson, there is a substantial number of fires that are unintentional. From 2008

through 2013, 1128 out of 1519 fires (74%) were determined to be unintentional.


Although most incidents are well below disaster proportions, the accumulated impact

(including injuries, death, and property loss) is often much greater than the impact of the

few major disasters that occur.

Most fire disasters are averted by early warning and appropriate response. Prevention of

those fire hazards can be greatly improved by public education based on historical

records, past experiences, and examination of circumstances surrounding various

situations. Fires are often brought under control quickly due to highly trained and

dedicated firefighters, most of whom are volunteers.

Past Occurrences

Below is a summary of Fire related incidents from 2008 through 2013:

202 Intentional Fires

o $11,663,949 in property loss

1128 Unintentional Fires


189 Undetermined/under investigation


Fatalities

o 1 in the fire service

o 18 civilians

Injuries

o 112 in the fire service

o 288 civilians

Chester County



In 2008, an arsonist was setting fires in the Coatesville area for months. An arson

taskforce was assembled with local, county, state, and federal partners to catch the

arsonist. Of the properties that were involved in the fires, 22 were destroyed, 11 were

majorly damaged, 21 received minor damage, and 13 were affected. An estimate of

$3,297,245 in damage to structures and $1,910,625 in content damage occurred as a

result of those fires.

In 2012, a forest fire occurred in French Creek State Park. Due to the dense woods and

the unique needs to fight a forest fire, it took almost a week to place the fire under

control. The urban/wild land interface, requirement of multiple forestry crews and

divisions, and the multiple jurisdictions involved in the response were some of

complexities that were faced. Since the fire was contained in the woods, there was little

to no damage to improved structures.


The number of fire incidents over the past five years has remained relatively constant,

averaging between 219 and 300 incidents per year, with a death toll of less than 6 a year.

Public education programs and increased emphasis on the use of smoke detectors is

hoped to decrease fire death and injury rates. The increased use of home sprinkler

systems also has a dramatic reduction in the severity of fires that start in sprinklered

homes.

Although forest fire incidents and losses have only occurred once in recent years, it is felt

that public education, coupled with decreasing acreage of forests through industrial and

residential expansion will decrease forest fire hazards. However, the increasing numbers

of houses being built near the forested areas increased the risk of the urban/wild land

interface fires.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. There is the potential for loss of life and injuries within any building

that is on fire. Also, firefighters put themselves at risk while extinguishing the fire. The

impact to structures is the primary impact from fires. The fires are for the most part

contained to no more than a few buildings as a result of a single fire. The losses to

buildings due to wild land fires are minimal.

Infrastructure. The impact to critical infrastructure is limited to minor, short-term

restrictions on transportation pathways. The only major impact to critical infrastructure

would occur if that location was the one that was experiencing the fire.

Economy. Normal fires that occur throughout the year have little impact to the economy.

Incidents such as arson sprees would have a greater impact on the economy due to

multiple buildings being involved as well as the public concern over the arsons.

Chester County



Hazardous Material Releases

A hazardous material is defined as a substance or material in a quantity or form which

may pose a danger to life, property, or the environment if improperly stored, shipped, or

handled due to its physical and/or chemical properties.

Location and Extent

In Chester County, the areas of concern involving hazardous materials are:

Industrial sites that manufacture hazardous substances and/or generate hazardous

wastes

Chemical distributors and/or waste users

Highways and major industrial traffic

Railroads through the community

Pipelines through the area

Airports

Fuel and other hazardous chemical storage facilities

Oil well and terminals

Waste disposal systems

Nuclear facility material/waste

Chester County has over 570 miles of liquid and gas pipelines. Ten companies operate 27

lines throughout Chester County. There are approximately 350 miles of pipelines that

transport gas, and 230 miles that transport liquid product. The pipelines traverse 59 of

the 73 municipalities in the county. Additional information about pipelines in Chester

County can be found on the Pipeline Information Center www.chescopagreen.org

Chester County is becoming increasingly vulnerable to the threat of hazardous materials

incidents. New industrial complexes and housing developments increase the potential for

natural gas or petroleum pipeline incidents. Increasing industrialization brings with it

greater sources of hazardous material transportation, storage, use, and waste. The activity

of the Limerick Generating Station and the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station also

pose a threat involving nuclear material and waste. Chester County currently has 18

hazardous materials waste Superfund sites; 11 of those 18 are listed on the National

Priorities List for Superfund Cleanup.

Any facility using, storing or manufacturing an Extremely Hazardous Substance (EHS)

must meet the reporting criteria under Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act

(SARA) Title III, and are required to work with local officials to develop an Emergency

Response Plan in preparation of a potential emergency. According to the Chester County

Annual Report on Hazardous Material Emergency Response Preparedness, Reporting

Year 2013, there were 72 SARA Title III planning facilities in Chester County. There are

403 different chemical used at SARA planning facilities in Chester County. In addition,

there are 437 chemicals at 166 other reporting facilities. These chemicals pose various

levels of concern due to their characteristics, quantity, and use within the facility. The

SARA sites within Chester County are depicted in Figure 15.

Chester County




An increasing number of hazardous materials incidents in Chester County are the result

of highway and rail accidents, storage tank leakage, or other events. On occasion, these

events reach major proportions and force people to evacuate and/or lose their homes and

businesses. The majority of hazardous material incidents are small localized incidents,

with many not even requiring a response from the County’s hazardous materials team.

The majority of hazardous materials are used in industry, which have staff

knowledgeable in safe storage and handling of the materials.

The events that do arise are usually related to some type of accident in the workplace or

on the transportation routes within the County. There are also increasing amounts of

chemicals within homes. While the quantities in homes are usually not a significant

source of concern, the potential for two incompatible chemicals mixing and reacting is of

greater concern.

Past Occurrences

Most incidents occur at facilities that are non-SARA facilities. From 2009 through 2013

the following hazardous materials calls occurred:

63 Hazmat Team Responses

o 9 responses at SARA facilities

o 11 transportation related responses

o 43 non-SARA facilities

o 12 civilian injuries

o 6 civilian deaths

82 Hazmat Staff Responses

o 44 petroleum related

o 25 chemical related

o 12 related to suspicious substances


The potential for a hazardous materials incident is tremendous considering the growing

number of hazardous materials sites in Chester County. Increasing vulnerability to

hazardous materials, whether raw, or waste, cannot be avoided. However, measures can

be taken to keep risk at a minimum. Regulation and monitoring of hazardous

material/waste facilities should reduce the probability of hazardous materials incidents. In

addition, planning and preparation of response measures for hazardous materials

incidents should minimize the effect of incidents that do occur.

Potential Impact

Life and Property. The majority of hazardous materials incidents within this county

have a limited impact to a small geographic area, sometimes a single building. The

potential exists for a product classified as an extremely hazardous substance to be

released and impact a moderate area of the county. Residents may need to be evacuated

in an area of one or two miles from an incident site.

Chester County



Infrastructure. If any infrastructure were to be impacted by a hazardous material

release, it would most likely be the location that is having the release. Many critical

infrastructure facilities within the county utilize hazardous materials as part of their daily

operations. The other impact would be any infrastructure that is within the evacuation

area of a hazardous materials incident. An evacuation would force the operators of that

infrastructure to leave, there by shutting down the infrastructure.

Economy. Depending on the nature of the material that is involved, agriculture crops and

livestock could be impacted. Most hazardous materials events do not last for more than a

day; long term impacts due to evacuations are not a major impact to the economy.

Figure 15. Chester County SARA Facilities (Chester County GIS, 2013)

Chester County



Nuclear Incidents

A nuclear or radiation accident is defined by the International Atomic Energy Agency as

“an event that has led to significant consequences to people, the environment or the

facility.” Examples include lethal effects to individuals, large radioactivity release to the

environment, or “reactor core melt.” The prime example of a “major nuclear accident” is

one in which a reactor core is damaged and significant amounts of radioactivity are

released, such as in the Chernobyl disaster in 1986. This could be caused by an accident

or an intentional action.

Location and Extent

Portions of Chester County fall within a ten mile radius Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ)

of two nuclear facilities. Based on information from the 2010 U.S. Census, there are

approximately 2,736 Chester County residents in the Peach Bottom Atomic Power

Station EPZ, and 84,028 Chester County residents in the Limerick Generation Station

EPZ. Figure 16 shows the area in Chester County that falls within an EPZ. The county is

also located, all or in part, in the 50-mile radius "ingestion exposure pathway” of four

facilities. Limerick and Salem include the entire county; Peach Bottom includes all but

the far northeastern tip; Three Mile Island includes the entire western portion of the

county. There are also a number of smaller radiological sources in medical buildings,

academic centers, and used in some commercial businesses.


Should an accident occur at a nuclear power plant, the area within the 10-mile EPZ could

be ordered to evacuate or to shelter-in-place until the incident has been brought under

control. A 50-mile radius around each plant is designated as the ingestion pathway and

may receive some radioactive contaminants in very small amounts. While such amounts

are of lesser concern in terms of external exposure, protection of the food chain,

particularly milk, is important in preventing internal exposure due to ingestion of

radioactive contaminants. When dealing with a nuclear incident the warning time is short

to none and if an incident were to occur the effects could be felt for decades.

Past Occurrences

There have been no large scale nuclear incidents in the history of Chester County. The

last incident involving a radioactive source occurred in 2005, when a Troxler gauge used

by contractors for ground sampling fell off a truck. The device was found with no

evacuations or any other impact to the public.


The probability of a radiation release from a nuclear power plant in sufficient quantity to

constitute a threat to the health and safety of the people of Chester County is remote,

given all of the precautions and safety regulations now in effect. However being in

proximity to multiple power plants, the possibility exists for such an event and must

always be taken into consideration. Emergency plans are in place for the residents and

facilities in the 10-mile emergency planning zones. Those plans are trained on and

exercised on a routine basis.

Chester County



Potential Impact

Life and Property. If a nuclear incident were to occur at one of the nuclear power plants

the lives and the property within a 10-mile radius of the plant have the potential to be

impacted. Depending on if radiation is released and the quantity will determine the

severity of the impact. There is little physical damage that would be caused from a

radiation release. If there was a radiation release from a nuclear plant, it could make the

area around the plant uninhabitable for decades. Numerous lives could be at risk and

fatalities could occur during the evacuation of such a large area.

Infrastructure. Infrastructure in the affected area would be impacted due to the inability

to have personnel in the area to operate the infrastructure. There would be little physical

damage to any infrastructure due to radiation release.

Economy. If there were a radiation release that affected a large area, the potential exists

that the entire area would have to be evacuated. That evacuation would severely impact

the local economy, causing all business to be shut down. If there were farms within the

area that is impacted by radiation, it is possible that all of the crops and/or livestock

would not be able to be sold.

Figure 16. Chester County Nuclear Planning Zones (Chester County GIS, 2013)

Chester County



Transportation Accidents

For the purpose of this plan, a transportation accident is defined as an incident involving

air, rail, or highway travel resulting in death, serious injury, or extensive property loss or

damage. Incidents involving hazardous materials are considered in the hazardous

materials section of this analysis.

Location and Extent

Chester County has three public airports, and nine private airfields. The county is located

beneath the holding patterns of both Wilmington and Philadelphia International Airports.

Chester County is also served by a sizeable rail line system, which includes SEPTA,

Amtrak, Conrail, Octoraro Railroad, Canadian Pacific Rail, East Penn Railroad, and the

Brandywine Valley Railroad.

The Chester County road system includes approximately 3,662 miles of roadway. This

includes approximately 26 miles of turnpike, 1,160 miles of state and federal highways

and 2,476 miles of secondary and tertiary roads.


Rail lines pose a hazard to Chester County residents due to heavy commuter traffic and

transportation of hazardous materials, which is discussed in the hazardous materials

section of this analysis. Chester County experiences heavy traffic on a daily basis as a

result of commuters, large numbers of resident motorists, and travelers utilizing Interstate

76. Increasing urbanization, tourist trade, and the like contribute to the county’s

increasing vulnerability to the hazards of motor vehicle traffic. Transportation accidents

occur with little to no warning. The length of the response can vary depending on the

mode of transportation involved.

Past Occurrences

Chester County has been spared any major aircraft incidents despite its location beneath

holding patterns. Small aircraft incidents have occurred in the past.

Within the last decade, there have been a few rail line incidents. A partial derailment

occurred over the Brandywine Creek in Pennsbury Township, and a freight train in

Valley Township.

There were approximately 4,303 motor vehicle accidents in Chester County in 2012

resulting in 2,517 injuries and 31 fatalities (Figure 17).


Chester County is experiencing an increase in traffic. Considering the growing

transportation network, daily commuters, tourists, and increasing population densities,

the county appears vulnerable to accidents involving all modes of available

transportation.

Chester County



Potential Impact

Life and Property. There is a potential for a transportation accident to cause injuries,

loss of life, and damages to property. The mode of transportation that is involved in the

accident will determine the scale of loss of life and damages to property. A single car

accident would not cause nearly the same impact as would an aircraft or train accident.

While the damages from a transportation accident can be significant, they are localized to

one area of the County. It is unlikely that a single transportation accident would impact

more than a few municipalities at the same time.

Infrastructure. There is a potential for a transportation accident to affect critical

infrastructure. Industry has been developed around transportation networks to facilitate

the delivery of raw goods and distribution of finished goods.

Economy. Transportation accidents disrupt transportation networks, causing longer

commutes for residents and disruption in commodity flow throughout the county.

Figure 17. 2012 Chester County Transportation Accidents (DVRPC, 2013)

Chester County



Hazards Omitted from Hazard Profiles

Table 15 outlines the natural hazards that were left out of the hazard profiling, and the

rationale of omission.

Natural Hazard Rationale for Omission

Avalanche No history, event is highly unlikely given topography/climate

Dust Storm No history

Ice Jams

Although they do occur very rarely and under extreme conditions, ice

jams are unlikely. Given the size of the rivers in and around Chester

County, ice jams would not cause damage or disruption to the county

Invasive Species

There is little impact to the entire community in this county at once from

invasive species. There has been an increase of bugs such as stink bugs

and an increase in the use of pesticides targeted toward those bugs but

they have not had an large impact to the life, property, infrastructure or

economy

Landslide/Mudflow Unlikely given topography

Pestilence Infectious/Contagious Diseases

Radon

While Radon is prevalent within the region, a hazardous impact to the

entire community at once is non-existent. In home radon mitigation

systems are an ongoing measure that homeowners are already

implementing.

Seiche Unlikely given that no large water body (large lake) is present in county

Subsidence

Sink holes have occurred along the route 202 corridor (due to underlying

limestone) and other areas of the county. Sink holes have only caused

relatively minor economic loss and impact to the overall county.

Tsunami Unlikely given that county is located far enough inland, limited seismic

activity

Volcano No volcanoes located in region

Waterspout Unlikely given that no large water body (originating surface) is located

within the county

Wild Fire

There is little expose to large wild lands in Chester County. There are

small pockets of forests and brush throughout the county, but nothing that

is not covered in the fire hazard profile.

Table 15. Natural Hazards Omitted from Hazard Profiles

Chester County



Assessing Vulnerability to Hazards

The following sections summarize the methodologies used to perform the vulnerability

analysis portion of the risk assessment. For this plan update, the entire vulnerability

analysis was updated to reflect the new hazard categories, the availability of new data, or

differing loss estimation methodology.

The first step in the vulnerability analysis is to assess the perceived overall risk for each

of the plan hazards. The mitigation committee members participated in a scoping

exercise to subjectively place all relevant hazards into a matrix used to compare various

hazard importance levels based on the potential for the hazard to occur and its capacity to

negatively affect people, structures, infrastructure, and the economy. This exercise helped

to spark discussions about relative risks and the types of impacts commonly experienced.

The natural hazards were given a score from 1 to 5 with 5 being the most severe in the

following areas:

probability of the hazard occurring (5 being a high probability)

impact caused by the hazard (5 being a large impact)

length of warning time given for the hazard (5 being no warning time at all)

duration of the event (5 being a long duration event)

The responses from the hazard mitigation committee members were collected, then

Calculated Priority Risk Index modeled by FEMA as a best practice was used to create a

weighted score of each hazard. The index value is obtained by assigning varying degrees

of risk to four (4) categories for each hazard, and then calculating an index value based

on a weighting scheme. The four areas are given the following weights:

Probability – 45%

Impact – 30%

Warning Time – 15%

Duration – 10%

Table 16 shows the consolidated numbers from the natural hazards vulnerability

assessment.

Hazard Probability Impact Warning Time Duration Weighted Score Rank

Thunderstorms 4.824 2.706 2.941 2.235 3.647 1

Flood 3.882 3.647 3.059 2.706 3.570 2

Winter Storm 3.882 3.529 2.471 3.059 3.482 3

Tornado and

Windstorms 3.059 4.235 3.941 1.882 3.426 4

Drought 3.765 3.529 1.529 4.176 3.400 5

Extreme Temperatures 4.060 3.090 2.240 2.941 3.384 6

Hurricanes 3.412 3.588 1.882 3.000 3.194 7

Earthquake 1.588 2.824 4.471 1.471 2.380 8

Table 16. Natural Hazards Vulnerability Assessment Scoring

Chester County



The human-caused hazards were approached in a slightly different manner. The planning

team realized that the human-caused hazards could have completely different impacts on

the different areas of the community. The planning team decided to create a few areas of

focus then rank all of the human-caused hazards on how they would impact that area. The

areas of focus for the vulnerability analysis were:

Education Facilities

Public Gatherings (special events, malls, parks, etc)

Industrial Locations

Healthcare Organizations

Agriculture

Transportation

Critical Commercial Facilities (critical private sector businesses, utility providers,

etc)

Government Facilities

For each of the areas of focus, each of the ten human-caused hazards were scored from

one to five in two areas, the probability of occurrence and the potential impact. The risk

was then weighted using a Department of Homeland Security risk assessment ratio of

probability weighed at 20% and the impact weighted at 80%. The scores were calculated

for each hazard in each area of focus then averaged across all of the responses. The

results of that analysis concluded the following ranking of the human-caused hazards

(Table 17)

Area of Focus Ranking Score Rank

Public Gatherings 2.986 1

Transportation 2.953 2

Healthcare Organizations 2.929 3

Industrial Locations 2.902 4

Critical Commercial 2.899 5

Agriculture 2.879 6

Government Facilities 2.700 7

Education Facilities 2.234 8

Table 17. Human-caused Hazards Area of Focus Ranking

The ranking system was the initial method used to create a ranked listing of the hazards.

The planning team then took that ranking and discussed whether to adjust any of the

rankings. The human-caused planning team decided to make one change in the top

hazards for this plan. It was decided to place the Industrial Locations area of focus in the

top three and move Healthcare Organizations to number 4. This decision was made

because the ranking scores of the two were close and the planning team thought there

would be more benefit to the entire community to focus mitigation planning toward

industrial locations because there is already a high level of preparedness efforts underway

at many healthcare facilities.

Chester County



After the top three areas of focus for the human caused hazards were determined, the

hazards within each area were evaluated. The data from the ranking of the human-caused

hazards within the top there areas of concern were as follows (Table 18).

Area of Focus Hazard Score Rank

Public Gatherings Civil Disturbance 4.001 1

Conventional/Improvised Bombs 3.906 2

Armed Attacks 3.891 3

Nuclear Incidents 3.529 4

Hazardous Material Releases 3.288 5

Fires 2.700 6

Transportation Accidents 2.500 7

Extended Utility, Data, or Telecomm Disruptions 2.371 8

Dam Breaches 1.929 9

Cyber Terrorism 1.741 10

Transportation Transportation Accidents 3.682 1


Extended Utility, Data, or Telecomm Disruptions 3.498 3




Civil Disturbance 2.471 7

Fires 2.453 8


Cyber Terrorism 1.892 10

Industrial Extended Utility, Data, or Telecomm Disruptions 3.400 1

Locations Cyber Terrorism 3.394 2


Fires 3.276 4




Transportation Accidents 2.247 8

Civil Disturbance 1.988 9


Table 18. Human-caused Hazards Ranking

Chester County



The top three hazards within each of the top areas of focus determined the nine human-

caused hazards that this pan will focus on. The data presented the basis for evaluation in

the Chester County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazards Mitigation Plan with the determination

that the hazards to be considered in this effort would include:

Natural Hazards

Thunderstorms

Flooding (including stormwater floods)

Winter storms

Tornadoes and Windstorms

Drought

Human Caused and Technological Hazards

Public gatherings

1. Civil disobedience

2. Conventional/improvised bombs

3. Armed attacks

Transportation

1. Transportation accidents



Industrial locations


2. Cyber terrorism


The planning committee widely recognized the existence of additional potential risks, but

felt that these hazards were the most representative of the major issues currently facing

the county. The community would benefit the most overall by focusing on these top

hazards. During each update of this plan, the entire risk assessment process is reviewed

to determine if the risks are changing over time.

Chester County




Chester County Capabilities and

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Mitigation Strategy


Capabilities and Mitigation Strategy




This capability assessment examines the ability of Chester County and the municipalities

within Chester County to implement and manage a comprehensive mitigation strategy,

which includes a range of mitigation actions. The capabilities identified in this

assessment are evaluated collectively to develop recommendations, which support the

implementation of effective mitigation actions throughout the County.

Within Chester County, as enabled by state legislation, each municipality has its own

governing body, passes and enforces its own ordinances and regulations, purchases

equipment, and manages its own resources, including critical infrastructure. Therefore,

an assessment was conducted to evaluate various characteristics and capabilities of each

municipality within the county. The specific capabilities of each municipality are outlined

in the municipal specific section of the plan.

This capability assessment is an evaluation of Chester County’s governmental structure,

political framework, legal jurisdiction, fiscal status, policies and programs, regulations

and ordinances, and resource availability. The evaluation of the categories allows the

mitigation planning team to determine the viability of certain mitigation actions. The

capability assessment analyzes what Chester County and its municipalities have the

capacity to do and provides an understanding of what must be changed to mitigate loss.

The categories that were assessed include:

Legal and Regulatory

Administrative and Technical

Fiscal

Political

Institutional

Legal and Regulatory Capabilities

Pennsylvania municipalities have the authority to govern more restrictively than the state

and county minimum requirements, assuming they are in compliance with all criteria

established in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) and their respective

municipal codes. Municipalities can develop their own policies and programs and

implement their own rules and regulations to protect and serve their local residents. Local

policies and programs are typically identified in a comprehensive plan, implemented via

local ordinances and actions, and enforced through the governmental body or its

appointee.

Municipalities regulate land use via the adoption and enforcement of zoning ordinances,

subdivision and land development ordinances, building codes, building permit

ordinances, floodplain ordinances, and/or stormwater management ordinances. When

effectively prepared and administered, these regulations are an essential part of hazard

mitigation.

The listing of ordinances each municipality has as it relates to hazard mitigation is

outlined in each of the municipal specific pages. In Chester County, each municipality




regulates land use at the local municipal level. The County can provide technical

experience and assistance in developing ordinances for the municipalities, and reviews

and comments on all proposed ordinances and land developments. This is done mainly

through the Chester County Planning Commission, however other County agencies such

as the Chester County Water Resources Authority work with the municipalities for

specific topics such as stormwater management, water supply availability and protection,

and flood mitigation.

Building Codes

Building codes are important in mitigation because they are developed for regions of the

country in consideration of the hazards present in those regions. Consequently, structures

that are built according to applicable codes are inherently resistant to many hazards, such

as strong winds, floods, and earthquakes, and can help mitigate regional hazards, such as

wildfires.

The Uniform Construction Code (UCC) applies to almost all buildings, excluding

manufactured and industrialized housing (which are covered by other laws), agricultural

buildings, and certain utility and miscellaneous buildings. The UCC has many

advantages, requiring builders to use materials and methods that have been professionally

evaluated for quality and safety, as well as requiring inspections of completed work to

ensure compliance.

All codes enforcement is local, except where municipal (or third party) code officials lack

the certification necessary to approve plans and inspect commercial facilities. The

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry has the responsibility for some

commercial code enforcement in municipalities that do not have the expertise to enforce

commercial building code. The Department of Labor and Industry also has sole

jurisdiction for all state-owned buildings no matter where they are located. All

municipalities within Chester County have adopted and adhere to the standards of the

Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (Act 45). Since there is no unincorporated

land within Chester County, the County itself does not have the legal authority to enforce

building codes. The County provides assistance to the municipalities in best practices,

and codes enforcement as it relates to fire safety, if a municipality is unable to perform

those life safety inspections on their own.

Subdivision, Land Development, and Zoning Ordinance

The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code authorizes municipalities to prepare,

enact, and enforce subdivision, land development, and zoning ordinances. The

ordinances can include regulations to control the types of structures build in a specific

area, layout of streets, minimum lot sizes, and the provision of utilities. The County

cannot pass an ordinance that overrules existing ordinances that are in place within a

municipality. The County can provide technical assistance on developing subdivision and

land development ordinances.




Floodplain Ordinance/NFIP

Floodplain management is the operation of programs or activities that may consist of

both corrective and preventive measures for reducing flood damage, including but not

limited to such things as emergency preparedness plans, flood control works, and

floodplain management regulations. It is in the interest of all property owners in the

floodplain to keep development and land usage within the scope of the floodplain

regulations for their community. This helps keep insurance rates low and ensures that the

risk of flood damage is not increased by property development. Floodplain ordinances

are implemented and enforced at a municipal level. The specifics on which

municipalities have floodplain ordinances and the number of buildings in the floodplain

are outlined in the municipal specific section of the plan.

Municipalities have the option of adopting a single-purpose ordinance or incorporating

these provisions elsewhere, most typically within their zoning, thereby mitigating the

potential impacts of local flooding.

Stormwater Management Plan/Stormwater Ordinance

The proper management of stormwater runoff can improve conditions and decrease the

chance of flooding. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s

Stormwater Management Program assists counties in developing stormwater

management plans for designated watersheds. This planning effort, as required by the

Stormwater Management Act of 1978 (Act 167), results in sound engineering standards

and criteria being incorporated into local codes and ordinances in order to manage

stormwater runoff from new development in a coordinated, watershed-wide approach.

Municipalities have an obligation to implement the criteria and standards developed in

the county stormwater management plan by amending or adopting laws and regulations

for land use and development. The implementation of stormwater management criteria

and standards at the local level is necessary because municipalities are responsible for

local land use decisions and planning. Municipalities benefit from the watershed

stormwater management plan and use the information to reduce runoff, pollution and

flooding as part of their land use considerations. The stormwater management plan is

designed to aid the municipality in reducing stormwater and flooding impacts for the land

uses it has proposed. A major goal of the watershed plan and municipal regulations is to

prevent future drainage problems and avoid the aggravation of existing problems.

CCWRA has completed a Countywide Act 167 Plan and all 73 municipalities have

adopted Act 167 stormwater management ordinances. These ordinances were developed

in conjunction with the guidelines established in the Pennsylvania Stormwater

Management Act (Act 167) and the countywide Act 167 Plan.

Comprehensive Plan

A comprehensive plan is a policy document that identifies goals and guides the future

growth and physical development of a municipality. The comprehensive plan is a

blueprint for housing, transportation, community facilities, utilities, and land use. It

examines how the past led to the present and charts the community’s future path. The




Municipalities Planning Code (MPC) requires counties to prepare and maintain a county

comprehensive plan. In addition, the MPC requires counties to update the comprehensive

plan every 10 years.

The Chester County Planning Commission is responsible for maintaining and updating

the County Comprehensive Plan. Landscapes2 is the current comprehensive plan for

Chester County. It includes a plan for land use, which, among other provisions, suggests

that the plan give consideration to floodplains and other areas of special hazards and

other similar uses. Municipalities are also enabled to prepare a comprehensive plan and

every municipality in Chester County has completed a comprehensive plan individually

or as part of a multi-municipal effort.

Capital Improvement Plan

A capital improvement plan is a multi-year policy guide that identifies needed capital

projects and is used to coordinate the financing and timing of public improvements.

Capital improvements relate to streets, stormwater systems, water distribution, sewage

treatment, and other major public facilities. The Chester County Commissioners

annually approve a comprehensive 5-year capital improvement plan which identifies both

sources and uses of funds to support strategic objectives.

Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Services Code (Title 35) requires all political

jurisdictions in the Commonwealth to “Prepare, maintain and keep current a disaster

emergency management plan for the prevention and minimization of injury and damage

caused by disaster, prompt and effective response to disaster and disaster emergency

relief and recovery of consonance with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Plan.”

Chester County’s EOP, updated in April of 2014, is an all-hazards plan and is the basis

for a coordinated and effective response to any emergency that may affect lives and

property in Chester County. The EOP, or portions thereof, would be implemented when

emergency circumstances warrant it. In addition to the basic EOP, the County also

maintains a variety of hazard specific annexes to the EOP that outline specific actions to

be taken in addition to those outlined in the EOP. The hazard specific annexes are

created for events that occur most frequently within the County. Each municipality

within Chester County has their own EOP which outlines municipal actions that need to

be taken during an emergency.

Administrative and Technical Capabilities

Chester County’s 73 municipalities conduct daily operations and provide various

community services according to local needs and limitations. Some adjacent

municipalities have formed cooperative agreements and work jointly with their

neighboring municipalities for purchasing, equipment sharing, or to provide services such

as police protection, fire and emergency response, infrastructure maintenance, and

wastewater management. Other municipalities have chosen to operate on their own. Each




municipality varies in staff size, resource availability, fiscal status, service provision,

constituent population, overall size, and vulnerability to the identified hazards.

County Departments and Authorities

Chester County Department of Emergency Services

The Mission of the Department of Emergency Services is to promote and assist in

providing safety and security to Chester County citizens so they can work, live, and grow

in a healthy and safe community.

The Department of Emergency Services is comprised of motivated, dedicated and trained

professionals providing exceptional leadership for County-wide emergency services

operations.

Emergency call receipt, interim assistance, response coordination and responder

dispatch.

Fire, emergency medical, hazardous materials and rescue.

Training coordination and administration.

Disaster response planning, coordination, recovery and mitigation.

Hazardous materials emergency response.

Fire prevention and investigation.

Chester County Health Department

The mission of the Chester County Health Department is to provide personal and

environmental health services to residents and visitors so that they may grow, live and

work in healthy and safe communities. The Health Department is responsible to the

County Commissioners through a five-member Board of Health, all Chester County

residents. Services are available to residents regardless of race, color, religious creed,

ancestry, national origin, age, handicap or sex.

The Local Health Administration Law directs the Health Department to prevent or

remove conditions which constitute a menace to public health; to make and enforce rules

and regulations, and institute such programs as may be necessary for the promotion and

prevention of the public health; to execute the powers and duties vested in it by the laws

of the Commonwealth, and the rules and regulations of the State Department of Health

and other departments, boards, or commissions of the state government.

Chester County Planning Commission

In Pennsylvania, planning responsibilities are delegated to each local municipality and

county through the Municipalities Planning Code (MPC). The mission of the Chester

County Planning Commission is to provide future growth and preservation plans to

citizens, so that they can enjoy a Chester County that is historic, green, mobile and

prosperous. The primary goal of the Planning Commission is to implement the

department’s strategic business plan through the recommendations of Landscapes2, the

County comprehensive policy plan, in partnership with municipalities and other

stakeholders. Specific objectives of the Planning Commission related to hazard

mitigation include action on:




• state-mandated subdivision and ordinance review requirements under the MPC

(Act 247)

• state-mandated sewage facilities planning reviews under Act 537

• the municipal planning grant program under the Vision Partnership Program;

• the Transportation Improvement Inventory as part of the County’s Transportation

Improvements Plan (TIP)

• planning websites for the efficient dissemination of information

• GIS technology

• training opportunities for municipal planning commission members

• coordination activities with SEPTA, PennDOT, and DVRPC and other regional

agencies

Chester County Water Resource Authority

The Chester County Board of Commissioners established the Chester County Water

Resources Authority (CCWRA) in 1961 under the PA Municipal Authorities Act as a

county-wide municipal authority for the purposes of providing flood protection and water

resources management for Chester County. CCWRA owns and operates four regional

flood control facilities that provide flood protection for 23 municipalities, and a water

supply reservoir that serves as a water source for public water supplies for the greater

Coatesville region. CCWRA also maintains a cooperative program with the U.S.

Geological Survey that provides county-wide monitoring of water resources conditions to

assist in water supply management, and flood and drought management and response,

among other uses. CCWRA also provides planning and technical information, guidance

and assistance to municipalities in other aspects of water resources management

including flood mitigation, stormwater management, water supply planning, source water

management and protection, groundwater management and protection, and stream water

quality restoration and protection.

Emergency Management Coordinator

Emergency management is a comprehensive, integrated program of mitigation,

prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery for emergencies/disasters of any kind.

No public or private entity is immune to disasters, and no single segment of society can

meet the complex needs of a major emergency or disaster on its own.

A municipal emergency management coordinator is responsible for emergency

management within his/her respective municipality. The responsibilities of the

emergency management coordinator include:

Prepare and maintain a current disaster emergency management plan

Establish, equip, and staff an emergency operations center

Provide individual and organizational training programs

Organize and coordinate all locally available manpower, materials, supplies,

equipment, and services necessary for disaster emergency readiness, response,

and recovery

Adopt and implement precautionary measures to mitigate the anticipated effects

of a disaster




Cooperate and coordinate with public and private agencies

Provide prompt information regarding local disaster emergencies to appropriate

local, County, and Commonwealth officials or agencies and the general public

Chester County and all its municipalities have an emergency management coordinator.

Emergency Management coordinators go through a training and certification process

developed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.

Intergovernmental Cooperation

Intergovernmental cooperation is one manner of accomplishing common goals, solving

mutual problems, and reducing expenditures. Chester County and its municipalities

demonstrate a high level of intergovernmental cooperation on the local, county, and

regional level. Meetings between all levels of governments occur on a frequent basis.

The five counties in southeastern Pennsylvania are part of a regional task force. The

regional task force provides a mechanism for the counties and other stakeholders to meet

on a regular basis on a variety of different topics. The task force is composed of five

working groups: infrastructure, public safety, emergency response, health and human

services, and internet technology and communications.

Municipal Engineering

A municipal engineer performs duties as directed in the areas of construction,

reconstruction, maintenance and repair of streets, roads, pavements, sanitary sewers,

bridges, culverts, and other engineering work. The municipal engineer reviews and/or

prepares plans, specifications, and estimates of the work undertaken within the

municipality. Municipalities have an engineer on staff or access to one through contracts.

The County has access to engineers for technical advice or to assist with County projects.

Plan Interrelationships

Ensuring consistency between planning mechanisms is critical. Some jurisdictions choose

to couple the comprehensive plan with the mitigation plan. Chester County purposely

keeps the plans separate. While the two plans are aligned along some of the same issues,

the two plans take a different focus. The Chester County Planning Commission is

heavily involved in the update of this Mitigation plan to help ensure that the Mitigation

Plan and Landscapes2, Chester County’s Comprehensive Plan, are aligned where

appropriate.

Spatial Data, Mapping and Analysis

Spatial and tabular data are linked in a computerized, visual format through the use of

sophisticated Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Through GIS projects it

is possible to accomplish environmental restoration, economic development, “smart

growth” land use planning, infrastructure development, and overall planning.

GIS services are available to County Departments through the Chester County

Department of Computer Information Services. GIS services are also made available to

municipalities who become part of the Chester County GIS Consortium. Municipalities

have varying levels of ability when it comes to GIS capabilities.




Transportation Improvement Program

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the region’s agreed-upon list of

specific priority projects. The TIP lists all projects that intend to use federal funds, along

with non-federally funded projects that are regionally significant. The list is multimodal;

in addition to the more traditional highway and public transit projects, it includes bicycle,

pedestrian, and freight-related projects as well.

Fiscal Capabilities

Fiscal capability is important to the implementation of hazard mitigation activities. Every

jurisdiction must operate within the constraints of limited financial resources. The

following information pertains to various financial assistance programs pertinent to

hazard mitigation.

State, Federal, and Private Sector Grants

A variety of grant programs are available to the County. Some of the grant programs

include:

Community Development Block Grant Program

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant Program

Homeland Security Grant Program

Post-Disaster Public Assistance funding

Private Sector Grants

Radiological Emergency Preparedness Grant Program

Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program

Vision Partnership Program

Additional grants in the community and region

The amount of money available from the various grants and the amount of money that is

available to focus on hazard mitigation varies by grant and by year.

Capital Improvement Financing

Most capital improvement projects involve the outlay of substantial funds, and local

government can seldom budget for these improvements in the annual operating budget.

Therefore, numerous techniques have evolved to enable local governments to finance for

capital improvements over a time period exceeding one year. Public finance literature and

state laws governing local government finance classify techniques that are allowed to

finance capital improvements. These techniques include: revenue bonds; lease-purchase,

authorities and special districts; current revenue (pay-as-you-go); reserve funds; and tax

increment financing. Some of the municipalities as well as the County have a process for

Capital Improvements. Mitigation projects can potentially be put into Capital

Improvement Plans for future funding. The County has a capital budgeting plan for

future development needs.




Municipal Authorities

Municipal authorities are most often used when major capital investments are required. In

addition to sewage treatment, municipal authorities have been formed for water supply,

airports, bus transit systems, solid waste, and other purposes. Municipal authorities have

powers to receive grants, borrow money, and operate revenue-generating programs.

Municipal authorities are authorized to sell bonds, acquire property, sign contracts, and

take similar actions. Depending on the mitigation action identified, municipal authorities

might be an avenue to help pay for the proposed action.

Political Capabilities

Political capability refers to a jurisdiction’s incentive or willingness to accomplish hazard

mitigation objectives. Local decision makers may not rank hazard mitigation as a high

priority task if there are other, more immediate political concerns. Unfortunately, it often

takes a disaster to get people thinking about hazard mitigation. Responding to and

recovering from a disastrous event can exhaust local resources, thereby elevating hazard

mitigation to the forefront. Cooperation among elected officials, planning commission

members, emergency management officials, and others is essential to achieve hazard

mitigation objectives. Maintaining open lines of communication and sharing up-to-date

information is a crucial step.

Council of Governments

A Council of Governments (COG) is a general, multi-purpose, cooperative organization

established to enable a group of municipalities to work together on mutually beneficial

projects. A COG has a broad responsibility; it may study and propose new joint programs

and projects and is almost always composed of elected officials. There are a variety of

organizations that work across municipal boundaries within Chester County. There are

two COG’s within Chester County, the Western Chester County COG and the West

Chester Area COG. In addition, regional emergency management groups have been

developed in various areas usually centered around school district boundaries.

Institutional Capabilities

As detailed previously, Chester County’s 73 municipalities conduct their own daily

operations and provides various community services according to local needs and

limitations. Some of these municipalities have formed cooperative agreements and work

jointly for purchasing, equipment sharing, or to provide services, such as solid waste

disposal and water supply management. Each municipality varies in size of staff, resource

availability, financial status, service provision, constituent population, and vulnerability

to the identified hazards.

In addition to the institutional capability of the municipal government structure described

here, the County is capable of engaging in hazard mitigation activities. Chester County

has its own mitigation goals and objectives, staff, resources, budget, and equipment to

mitigate identified hazards. When partnered with local municipalities, the state, the




federal government, local councils of government, environmental groups, or other

entities, the results can be very positive.

Hazard Mitigation Actions

Table 19 is a listing of initiatives that could change the impact of a hazard, reduce

exposure to a hazard, reduce vulnerability to a hazard, or increase the ability to respond

to or be prepared for a hazard. The list is not exhaustive or site-specific. Its purpose is to

provide a baseline of initiatives that are backed by a planning process, are consistent with

the County’s goals and are within the capabilities of the County to implement. There are

many actions that are already occurring and stated in the actions to ensure they continue

to occur to maintain the mitigation efforts already underway within the County. Input

was solicited from Chester County Mitigation Committee members on the County’s

hazards, vulnerabilities and possible corresponding mitigation measures.

Mitigation actions are also outlined in each municipal specific section of the plan. The

municipal mitigation actions are focused on specific projects where the County actions

are more broadly focused. The municipalities will also work toward meeting the

countywide actions as well as their specific projects.




Mitigation Action Matrix

ID Mitigation Action Goals Met Timeframe Responsible Agency Potential Resources

All Hazards AH-1 Catalog critical facilities and infrastructure

within the County

3 Ongoing DES, Planning, Health Staff time

AH-2 Upgrade and further develop the county-wide

GIS database that incorporates county

infrastructure, critical facilities, land use, and

hazard zones

1, 2, 3 Ongoing DCIS, DES, Planning,

CCWRA, Health

Staff time, HSGP,

UASI

AH-3 Adhere to statewide Uniform Construction Code

for new construction

3, 4 Ongoing Municipalities Staff Time

AH-4 Provide regular updates to the countywide Mass

Care Plan

1 Short-term DES, Health, ARC Staff Time

AH-5 Increase mutual aid and interagency agreements

to support preparedness, mitigation, and response

activities in Chester County

1, 2 Ongoing Municipalities, DES,

Procurement

Staff Time

AH-6 Periodically review County response plans and

response teams to ensure they meet the needs of

the community

1, 2, 3 Ongoing DES Staff Time

AH-7 Promote and provide emergency management

training opportunities

3 Ongoing DES Staff Time

AH-8 Arrange and hold hazard mitigation workshops

for county residents

5, 6 Long-term DES, FEMA, PEMA,

Planning, CCWRA

Staff Time, County

funding, HMGP

AH-9 Maintain and foster communications with PEMA

and FEMA region III-Mitigation Division


AH-10 Examine federal funding opportunities at

conference, workshops, and following disasters


AH-11 Enhance the communications equipment between

the County and the municipalities

1, 2 Long-term DES HSGP, HMGP,

RERP,UASI




AH-12 Enhance the County website to create a place to

consolidate public information related to disaster

response and recovery

3, 5, 6 Short-term DES, Commissioners

Officer

Staff Times

AH-13 Continue infrastructure improvements through

community development

2, 3, 4 Ongoing DCD CDBG

AH-14 Continue to provide community outreach and

education about emergency preparedness and

actions to take during an emergency. Develop a

branded public information campaign that could

be used by multiple County departments

2, 6 Ongoing DES, Health, CCWRA,

Planning

Staff Time, HSGP,

HMGP, UASI

AH-15 Implement a system to report blocked/closed

roads

1, 2 Short-term DES, Planning, DCIS Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

AH-16 Provide education to the municipalities on

resident evacuation processes and need

1, 2 Short-term DES Staff Time

AH-17 Provide education to the municipalities on

tracking road closures


AH-18 Promote awareness of mental health services and

resources throughout all of the facilities within

the County to include schools, workplaces, and

healthcare facilities

5 Long-term DES, MHIDD Staff Time

AH-19 Increase the involvement of mental health

professionals in the Disaster Crisis Outreach

Team (DCORT) and increase the network of

mental health responders

5 Ongoing MHIDD, DES Staff Time

Thunderstorms TS-1 Educate municipalities on the importance of

streetscape planning and vegetation control such

as not planting trees under power lines

2, 4, 5 Short-term Planning Staff Time

TS-2 Sustain tree management programs around power

lines

2 Ongoing Municipalities, private

sector

Staff Time, agency

budget




TS-3 Encourage new development planning to include

burying of utility cables

1, 2 Ongoing Municipalities, Planning Staff Time

Flooding F-1 Include flood mitigation recommendations and

NFIP program information in public education

materials prepared by the Department of

Emergency Services for Chester County

5, 6 Ongoing Planning, DES,

CCWRA

Staff time, County

Funding, HMGP,

HSGP, PS, UASI

F-2 Educate county resident on the NFIP following

flood events

5, 6 Ongoing DES, CCWRA Staff time

F-3 Pursue local mitigation efforts to improve areas

that are vulnerable to flooding including both

repetitive and non-repetitive loss structures

within floodplains

5 Ongoing Municipalities with

support from Planning,

CCWRA, Conservation

District, DES

HMGP, CDBG, PS

F-4 Encourage upgrades and improvements to

stormwater runoff capabilities when

reconstructing roads

1, 2, 3 Ongoing PennDOT,

Municipalities, DES,

Planning, CCWRA

Staff time

F-5 Recommend that municipalities update flood

ordinances after the update to the FEMA flood

study and flood maps

2, 3, 4 Ongoing Municipalities,

Planning, CCWRA

Staff Time, VPP

F-6 Follow state and County stormwater regulations 1, 2, 3, 4 Ongoing Municipalities Staff Time

F-7 Enforce floodplain management ordinances 1, 2, 3, 4 Ongoing Municipalities Staff Time

F-8 Implement the Act 167 Plan (Stormwater

management)

1, 2, 3, 4 Short-term Municipalities,

CCWRA

Staff Time

F-9 Maintain integrity and functions of existing

regional flood control facilities

1, 2 Ongoing CCWRA, Pa DCNR Staff Time

F-10 Maintain and provide municipalities with

updated emergency action plans for high hazard

dams

1, 2 Ongoing CCWRA, Dam Owners,

Pa DEP, DES

Staff Time




F-11 Develop and implement a model natural

conservation ordinance for the municipalities to

adopt

2, 4 Short-term Planning, Municipalities Staff Time

F-12 Continue open space preservation actions 2, 4 Ongoing Open Space, Planning Staff Time, County

funds

F-13 Continue to maintain the stream gauges within

the County

1, 2, 3 Ongoing CCWRA, DES County funds

F-14 Install stream gauges if an additional area is

identified to benefit from one

1, 2 Long-term DES, CCWRA HSGP, HMGP,

UASI

F-15 Provide education to the municipalities on flood

gauges

6 Short-term DES, CCWRA Staff Time

F-16 Install roadway gates to be closed off flood prone

intersections/roads during flood incidents and

signage to warn motorists of the closed road

1, 2 Short-term DES, Municipalities HSGP, HMGP,

UASI

F-17 Study the traffic control boxes that would be

exposed to riverine or stormwater flooding to

determine if they are able to withstand the water

3 Long-term DES, Planning Staff Time, HSGP,

HMGP, UASI

F-18 When provided by FEMA, evaluate and apply

FEMA non-regulatory electronic floodplain

mapping and mitigation tools, where appropriate.

4, 5, 6 Short-term CCWRA, DES Staff Time

F-19 Encourage municipal Code Enforcement

Officials to become trained in Floodplain

Management and NFIP Programs

1, 2 Ongoing CCWRA, Planning,

DES

Staff Time

Winter Storms WS-1 Provide public information on utility outages and

the need to prepare for storms

6 Ongoing DES Staff Time, HSGP,

HMP, USAI

WS-2 Identify Snow Emergency Routes in all

municipalities to increase clearing efforts and

travel ability of residents

1, 2 Long-term Municipalities Staff Time,

Municipal budgets

WS-3 Improve storm drains throughout the County to 1, 2 Long-term Municipalities, Municipal and State




handle snow melt PennDOT budgets, HMGP

WS-4 Plant bushes/other vegetation to stop drifting

snow in known problem areas

2 Short-term Municipalities Staff Time,

Municipal Budgets

WS-5 Encourage municipalities to adopt an ordinance

outlining the process and implementation a

declaration of a snow emergency


Tornadoes/Wind Storms TOR-1 Enhance the Household hazards waste program

to reduce post event hazardous debris

1, 2 Short-term DES, Health, Solid

Waste Authority

HSGP, HMGP,

UASI

TOR-2 Develop a countywide Debris Management Plan 1, 2 Short-term DES, Health Staff Time, HSGP

TOR-3 Provide public information on debris

management

6 Short-term DES, Health, Planning Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

TOR-4 Retrofit critical public facilities with safe rooms 1, 2 Long-term DES HMGP

Drought D-1 Provide public information on the effects of

droughts on public and private wells

6 Short-term DES, CCWRA, Health Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

D-2 Promote sustainability programs and green

practices throughout the County

3 Ongoing Planning, CCWRA,

Conservation District,

Open Space

Staff Time

D-3 Monitor and manage reservoirs and streamflows

to sustain water sources needed to meet public

water supply needs

3, 5 Ongoing CCWRA, Reservoir

Owners

Staff Time

Human Caused – Public Gatherings

PG-1 Encourage security check of bags/coolers at

public gathering

1, 2 Short-term Event sponsors,

Sheriff’s Office, Police

Departments

Event Sponsor,

Staff Time

PG-2 Plan for and implement strengthened security at

public events

1, 2 Short-term Event sponsors,

Sheriff’s Office, Police

Departments

Event Sponsor,

Staff Time




PG-3 Utilize sheriff K-9 teams for pre-event facility

screening at large events

1, 2 Ongoing Event sponsors,

Sheriff’s Office

Event Sponsor,

Staff Time

PG-4 Provide training for public leaders, coaches,

referees on conflict de-escalation

1, 2 Long-term Sheriff’s Office, Police

Departments, DA’s

Office, DES

Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

PG-5 Investigate the interaction of public agencies and

camera data from private companies/citizens

1, 2 Long-term Sheriff’s Office, DA’s

Office, DES

Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

PG-6 Purchase temporary mobile cameras to set up for

events

1, 2 Short-term Sheriff’s Office, DA’s

Office, DES

Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

PG-7 Utilize temporary mobile cameras during large

events to monitor safety and security

1, 2 Ongoing Sheriff’s Office, DA’s

Office, DES, Police

Departments

Event Sponsor,

Staff Time

PG-8 Inform leaders of large events about the benefits

of not providing alcohol at large events

1, 2 Short-term Sheriff’s Office, DA’s

Office, DES, Police

Departments

Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

PG-9 Continue to train staff to respond to critical

incidents and maintain the team of attorneys that

is available for large incidents

1, 2 Ongoing DA’s Office, DES, ERT

Teams

Staff Time, County

Budget

PG-10 Increase advanced planning through use of the

incident action plan process

1, 2 Ongoing DES Staff Time

Human Caused – Transportation

TRF-1 Work with the railroad industry to address safety

concerns and aging rail infrastructure within the

County

1, 2 Short-term DES, Planning Staff Time,

PHMSA

TRF-2 Provide ongoing cleaning and maintenance of

roadways

1 Ongoing Municipalities,

PennDOT

Staff Time, Agency

budgets

TRF-3 Utilize municipal and state mobile roadway signs

(VMS signs) during emergency events

1 Ongoing DES, PennDOT,

Municipalities

Staff Time

TRF-4 Install back-up power sources for traffic signals 1, 3 Short-term DES, Municipalities, Agency Budgets,




(generator, battery, solar) PennDOT HSGP, HMGP

TRF-5 Coordinate utilization of privately owned digital

billboards for emergency usages

1 Long-term DES, Planning Staff Time

TRF-6 Through coordination, stagger traffic during

delays/early releases for schools, government,

and private sector during a disaster

1, 2 Long-term DES, Planning Staff Time

TRF-7 Provide public education on traffic accident

reduction

6 Ongoing DES, Planning Staff Time, County

Budget, HSGP,

HMGP, UASI

TRF-8 Provide public information on the PennDOT

color coded detour routes installed around major

routes within the County.

6 Ongoing Planning, DES, DVRPC Staff Time, County

Budget, HMGP

TRF-9 Continue to grow partnerships with public and

private transit agencies to utilize their services

during emergency situations

1, 3 Ongoing DES, Planning Staff Time

TRF-10 Enforcement of traffic laws 1, 2 Ongoing Police Departments Staff Time

Human Caused - Industrial Locations

IL-1 Provide private sector education/outreach related

to cyber security best practices

3 Short-term DES, DCIS, CC FIRST HSGP, HMGP, PS,

UASI

IL-2 Conduct power assessment for critical

infrastructure/key resources to determine

emergency generator needs and coordinate

information with the Army Corps of Engineers

3 Short-term DES Staff Time, HSGP,

UASI

IL-3 Purchase backup generators for critical

infrastructure/key resources

3 Short-term Private Sector, DES Agency Budgets,

HSGP, HMGP

IL-4 Plan for replenishment fuel for generators 3 Short-term Private Sector, DES Staff Time

IL-5 Conduct reviews of SARA site plans to ensure

they are taking into consideration all of the

critical facilities surrounding their site

1, 2 Long-term DES Staff Time,

PHMSA

IL-6 Continue to engage the private sector to become 3, 6 Ongoing DES Staff Time,




involved in emergency preparedness

PHMSA

IL-7 Continue to provide the County HazMat team

tours of large SARA facilities within the county

to maintain familiarization of facility layouts

1, 2 Ongoing DES Staff Time, HMEP

Table 19. Potential hazard mitigation actions

Under timeline for completion, the County has identified the following parameters:

Ongoing: Initiative is currently being implemented under existing programs and budgets.

Short-term: Initiative can be completed within 1 to 5 years once funding has been secured.

Long-term: Initiative will take 5 or more years to complete once funding has been secured.

Under the potential funding sources, the acronyms align with the following programs:

CDBG: Community Development Block Grant Program

HMEP: Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant

HMGP: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

HSGP: Homeland Security Grant Program

PHMSA: Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration Technical Assistance Grant

PS: Private Sector Grants

RERP: Radiological Emergency Response Program

UASI: Urban Area Security Initiative

VPP: Vision Partnership Program




2010 Mitigation Plan Action Status

Action # Completed Carry Over Removed Comments

1.1.1 Is now action F-1


1.2.1 Combined with 1.3, is now action F-3

1.2.2

1.3 Combined with 1.2.1, is now action F-3

1.4 Is now action F-4

2.1

2.2 Is now action AH-1


3.1.1 Is now action AH-3



3.2

3.3 Is now action F-7



4.3 Reworded into action AH-6

4.4.1 Is now action AH-7

4.4.2 Is now split between action F-9 and F-10

4.5

5.1




Table 20. 2010 Mitigation Plan Action Status

Chester County

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Appendices


Appendices

Chester County



Appendix A: Acronyms

CCWRA Chester County Water Resources Authority

CDBG Community Development Block Grant Program

COG Council of Governments

DA’s Office District Attorney’s Office

DCIS Department of Computing and Information Services

DES Department of Emergency Services

DMA Disaster Mitigation Act

DVRPC Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission

EOP Emergency Operations Plan

ERT Emergency Response Team

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

GIS Graphical Information Services

HMEP Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant

HMGP Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

HSGP Homeland Security Grant Program

MPC Municipal Planning Code

NCDC National Climate Data Center

NFIP National Flood Insurance Program

Pa DCNR Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

PEMA Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency

PHMSA

Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration Technical Assistance

Grant

PS Private Sector

RERP Radiological Emergency Response Program

TIP Transportation Improvement Program

UCC Uniform Construction Code

USAI Urban Area Security Initiative

VPP Vision Partnership Program

Chester County



Appendix B: Planning Team Agencies

Natural Hazards Planning Team

Chester County Departments Partner Agencies

Assessment Department Chester County Association of Township Officials

Conservation District Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry

Department of Community Development Chester County FIRST

Department of Emergency Services Chester County Water Resources Authority

Facilities and Parks DelChester Public Works Association

Health Department East Brandywine Township

Open Space Preservation Elverson Borough

Planning Commission Franklin Township

North Coventry Township

Pocopson Township

Wallace Township

West Bradford Township

West Chester University

West Nantmeal Township

Human-Caused Hazards Planning Team

Chester County Departments Partner Agencies

Department of Computing and Information Services Charlestown Township

Department of Emergency Services Chester County Association of Township Officials

District Attorney's Office Chester County Fire Chief's Association

Facilities and Parks Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry

Health Department Chester County FIRST

Planning Commission Chester County Water Resources Authority

Sheriff's Office Department of Homeland Security

Delaware Valley Intelligence Center

East Fallowfield Township

Owen J. Roberts School District

PECO

Pennsbury Townships

Phoenixville Borough

Upper Uwchaln Township

Westtown Township

Chester County



Appendix C: Public Risk Assessment Survey Results

Natural Hazards

Chester County



Human-Caused Hazards

Chester County



Previous Impact

Chester County




Chester County

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Municipal Assessments


Municipal Mitigation Assessment Annexes

Chester County



Municipality

Atglen Borough ....................................................................................................... 116

Avondale Borough .................................................................................................. 118

Birmingham Township ........................................................................................... 120

Caln Township ........................................................................................................ 122

Charlestown Township ........................................................................................... 124

Coatesville City ....................................................................................................... 126

Downingtown Borough ........................................................................................... 128

East Bradford Township ......................................................................................... 132

East Brandywine Township .................................................................................... 134

East Caln Township ................................................................................................ 136

East Coventry Township ......................................................................................... 138

East Fallowfield Township ..................................................................................... 140

East Goshen Township ........................................................................................... 142

East Marlborough Township................................................................................... 144

East Nantmeal Township ........................................................................................ 146

East Nottingham Township..................................................................................... 148

East Pikeland Township .......................................................................................... 150

East Vincent Township ........................................................................................... 152

East Whiteland Township ....................................................................................... 154

Easttown Township ................................................................................................. 156

Elk Township .......................................................................................................... 158

Elverson Borough ................................................................................................... 160

Franklin Township .................................................................................................. 162

Highland Township ................................................................................................. 164

Honey Brook Borough ............................................................................................ 166

Honey Brook Township .......................................................................................... 168

Kennett Square Borough ......................................................................................... 170

Kennett Township ................................................................................................... 172

London Britain Township ....................................................................................... 174

London Grove Township ........................................................................................ 176

Londonderry Township ........................................................................................... 178

Lower Oxford Township......................................................................................... 180

Malvern Borough .................................................................................................... 182

Modena Borough .................................................................................................... 184

New Garden Township ........................................................................................... 186

New London Township........................................................................................... 188

Newlin Township .................................................................................................... 190

North Coventry Township ...................................................................................... 192

Oxford Borough ...................................................................................................... 194

Parkesburg Borough................................................................................................ 196

Penn Township........................................................................................................ 198

Pennsbury Township ............................................................................................... 200

Phoenixville Borough ............................................................................................. 202

Pocopson Township ................................................................................................ 204

Chester County



Sadsbury Township ................................................................................................. 206

Schuylkill Township ............................................................................................... 208

South Coatesville Borough ..................................................................................... 210

South Coventry Township ...................................................................................... 212

Spring City Borough ............................................................................................... 214

Thornbury Township .............................................................................................. 216

Tredyffrin Township ............................................................................................... 218

Upper Oxford Township ......................................................................................... 220

Upper Uwchlan Township ...................................................................................... 222

Uwchlan Township ................................................................................................. 224

Valley Township ..................................................................................................... 226

Wallace Township .................................................................................................. 228

Warwick Township ................................................................................................. 230

West Bradford Township ........................................................................................ 232

West Brandywine Township ................................................................................... 234

West Caln Township ............................................................................................... 236

West Chester Borough ............................................................................................ 238

West Fallowfield Township .................................................................................... 240

West Goshen Township .......................................................................................... 242

West Grove Borough .............................................................................................. 244

West Marlborough Township ................................................................................. 246

West Nantmeal Township ....................................................................................... 248

West Nottingham Township ................................................................................... 250

West Pikeland Township ........................................................................................ 252

West Sadsbury Township ....................................................................................... 254

West Vincent Township .......................................................................................... 256

West Whiteland Township ...................................................................................... 258

Westtown Township ............................................................................................... 260

Willistown Township .............................................................................................. 262

Chester County



Atglen Borough

Background Information

The borough is 0.9 square miles in area. The 2010 Census counted 1,406 people within the

municipality.

Buildings in the 1% (100 year) and 0.2% (500 year) chance floodplain

Total 1% Annual flood chance 0.2% Annual flood chance

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

482 697 3 11 $929,230 0 0 $0

Utility Providers

Electric Natural Gas Water

PPL PECO Atglen Borough

Capabilities

Planning and Regulatory Capabilities Administrative and Technical Capabilities

Building Code IBC Emergency Management Coordinator

Capital Improvement Plan Engineer on Staff or Contacted

Comprehensive Plan (Last Updated) 7/7/2010

Environmental Preservation Committee

Emergency Operations Plan GIS Capabilities on Staff or Contracted

Floodplain Ordinance Historical Preservation Committee NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission

Stormwater Management Ordinance Municipal Road Crew

Subdivision or Land Development Ordinance (Last Updated) 11/19/2001

Municipal Sewer

Municipal Water

Zoning Ordinance (Last Updated) 11/7/2011 Municipal Zoning Board These capabilities are in addition to the countywide capabilities outlined in the capability section of the plan.

Emergency Services Providers

Agency(ies)

ALS Lancaster Medic 06

BLS Christiana Fire Company (Lancaster County)

Fire Christiana Fire Company (Lancaster County)

Police Christiana Borough Police, Pennsylvania State Police – Avondale Barracks

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Atglen Borough considers their top hazards to be thunderstorms, flooding, winter storms, wind, and

drought in that order. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as outlined

in the Risk Assessment section of the plan.

Exposure to Flood Hazard

According to the NFIP records, residents within Atglen Borough have received $19,835 in total payouts

from a total of two flood claims since 1978. There are three flood insurance policies currently in effect

within the borough. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.

Potential Hazard Mitigation Actions

Location Mitigation Measure Comments

Borough wide Public Information Programs

Borough wide Emergency alerting systems

Borough wide Purchase portable warning signage and safety

cones

Fallowfield Road/Main St

& Steeleville Mill Rd

Install gates to be closed during flood

incidents and signage

Flood Prone Area

Green St by underpass Install storm drain outlets/outfall PennDOT Road

Green St and Valley Ave Install storm drain outlets/outfall PennDOT Road

Rt 41 & Rt 372 Install generator connection on traffic signal

Rt 41 & Rt 372 Install battery back up on traffic signal

Rt 41 & Rt 372 Purchase backup generator for traffic signal

Rt 41 & Rt 372 Install emergency vehicle detector/sensor

Chester County



Avondale Borough


The township is 0.5 square miles in area. The 2010 Census counted 1,265 people within the

municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

416 433 50 72 $5,571,150 21 21 $3,119,130

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Avondale Borough

Capabilities




Comprehensive Plan (Last

Updated) 5/27/2003 Environmental Preservation

Committee

Emergency Operations Plan

GIS Capabilities on Staff or

Contracted

Floodplain Ordinance Historical Preservation Committee

NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management

Ordinance Municipal Road Crew

Subdivision or Land Development

Ordinance (Last Updated) 12/17/1996

Municipal Sewer Authority

Municipal Water Authority

Zoning Ordinance (Last Updated) 4/15/2003 Municipal Zoning Board

These capabilities are in addition to the countywide capabilities outlined in the capability section of the

plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Southern Chester County EMS

BLS Avondale Fire Company

Fire Avondale Fire Company

Police Parkesburg Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Avondale Borough considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal

specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as outlined in the Risk Assessment section of

the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Avondale Borough have received $1,736,385 in total

payouts from a total of 30 flood claims since 1978. There are 20 flood insurance policies currently in

effect within the borough. There are five repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.



Borough wide Public information programs


200 First St – Building A Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

200 First St – Building B Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

220 E Second St Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

222 E Second St Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

311 Third St Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

107 Chatham St Acquire/Elevate Structure

400 New St Acquire/Elevate Structure

128 State St Property Protection

Indian Run Rd & W. State St Install warning signs/signals

Indian Run Rd & Borough

Line

Install warning signs/signals

First St and Morris Alley Install gates to be closed during

flood incidents and signage

First St and Chatham Street Install gates to be closed during


Pennsylvania Ave & State St. Purchase emergency generator for

traffic light

Baltimore Pike & Gap

Newport Pike

Purchase emergency generator for

traffic light

Miller Dr. & Indian Run Rd Build emergency access road into

communalities

Chester County



Birmingham Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,598 1,710 30 53 $7,539,100 5 5 $905,640

Utility Providers


PECO No Service Aqua America, Inc. Chester Water Authority

Capabilities








NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission





Zoning Ordinance (Last Updated) 2/7/2011 Municipal Zoning Board These capabilities are in addition to the countywide capabilities outlined in the capability section of the

plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Chester County Hospital, Concordville Fire & Protective Association

BLS Concordville Fire & Protective Association, Good Fellowship Ambulance Club

Fire Concordville Fire & Protective Association, First West Chester Fire Company

Police Birmingham Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Birmingham Township considers their top three hazards to be flooding, winter storms, and hurricanes in

that order. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as outlined in the Risk

Assessment section of the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Birmingham Township have received $73,806 in total

payouts from a total of nine flood claims since 1978. There are 12 flood insurance policies currently in

effect within the township. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.



Township wide Public Information Programs

Township wide Emergency alerting systems

Masters Way Build access road to Webb Rd Inaccessible during floods

Street Road (PA 926) bridge

over Brandywine Creek

Reengineer intersection Intersection easily floods

cutting of all traffic

Street Road (PA 926) at

Creek Rd

Install gates to be closed

during flood incidents and

signage

Other half in Pocopson Twp

Chester County



Caln Township

Planning currently in progress

Chester County




Chester County



Charlestown Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,010 2,401 8 12 $1,738,040 1 1 $92,060

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Aqua America, Inc.

Capabilities



Capital Improvement Plan Engineer on Staff or Contacted Comprehensive Plan (Last Updated) 2/4/2013







Municipal Water Authority Zoning Ordinance (Last Updated) 11/7/2011 Municipal Zoning Board


plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Malvern Fire Company, West End Fire Company

BLS East Whiteland Fire Company, West End Fire Company

Fire East Whiteland Fire Company, Kimberton Fire Company

Police Pennsylvania State Police – Embreeville Barracks

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Charlestown Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.

Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as outlined in the Risk



According to the NFIP records, residents within Charlestown Township have received $19,980 in total

payouts from a total of four flood claims since 1978. There are 15 flood insurance policies currently in


properties.



Township wide Public information programs


Bukwalter Rd Construct Larger Culvert

All traffic signals in

township

Purchase enough generators to

power all stop lights within the

township

4030 Whitehorse Rd

Malvern, PA 19432

Purchase and install back-up

generator

Township EOC and

municipal building

Township wide Equip a trailer for mobile EOC

capabilities

Township wide Determine feasibility of developing

a regional EOC with neighboring

municipalities

Chester County



Coatesville City


The city is 1.9 square miles in area. The 2010 Census counted 13,100 people within the municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,855 2,889 19 40 $3,468,380 18 18 $1,023,610

Utility Providers


PECO PECO PA American Water

Capabilities











Municipal Sewer Authority Municipal Water Authority Zoning Ordinance (Last Updated) 6/27/2011 Municipal Zoning Board


plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital – Medic 93

BLS Coatesville City Fire Department

Fire Coatesville City Fire Department

Police Coatesville City Fire Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Coatesville City considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Coatesville City have received $74,147 in total payouts

from a total of 17 flood claims since 1978. There are 18 flood insurance policies currently in effect

within the city. There is one repetitive loss property, and no severe repetitive loss properties.



City wide Public information programs

City wide Emergency alerting systems

63 S. Fifth Ave Property Protection Repetitive Loss

1 City Hall Pl

Coatesville, PA 19320

Upgrade generator City Hall & EOC

134 Strode Ave


Install generator West End Fire Company

Citywide Pre-plan access roads throughout the

City

11th

Ave and railroad

underpass

Install gates to be closed during


Extends into Caln

Township

Citywide Develop plan to deploy traffic light

generators

Gibbons Run Culvert Replace culvert Prone to flooding

Chester County



Downingtown Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,566 2,652 277 344 $51,750,880 69 78 $7,450,190

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Downingtown Water Authority

Capabilities



Capital Improvement Plan Engineer on Staff or Contacted Comprehensive Plan (Last


Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Downingtown Fire Department

BLS Downingtown Fire Department

Fire Downingtown Fire Department

Police Downingtown Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Downingtown Borough considers their top three hazards to be floods, sinkholes, and thunderstorms in




According to the NFIP records, residents within Downingtown Borough have received $1,730,148 in

total payouts from a total of 233 flood claims since 1978. There are 228 flood insurance policies

currently in effect within the borough. There are 37 repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive

loss properties.





Borough wide Install battery backup for 13 traffic

signals

410 Acorn Ln Property Protection Non-residential, Repetitive Loss

Property

110 Brandywine Ave Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property











118 Green St Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property





113 Jefferson Ave Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property











Chester County





34 W Lancaster Ave Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

309 Mary St Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property




337 Stuart Ave Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

21 Viaduct Ave Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

521 Whiteland Ave Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive Loss Property

Jefferson Ave Acquire/Elevate Structures 104 properties with buildings in

the 100 yr or 500 yr floodplain

Mary St Acquire/Elevate Structures 63 properties with buildings in


Brandywine Ave Acquire/Elevate Structures 42 properties with buildings in


Cherry St Acquire/Elevate Structures 31 properties with buildings in


Viaduct Ave Acquire/Elevate Structures 29 properties with buildings in


Roosevelt Ave Acquire/Elevate Structures 28 properties with buildings in

the 500 yr floodplain

Washington Ave Acquire/Elevate Structures 25 properties with buildings in


Chester County



This Page Intentionally Left Blank

Chester County



East Bradford Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,452 4,019 81 148 $12,505,880 4 4 $681,650

Utility Providers



Capabilities



Capital Improvement Plan Engineer on Staff or Contacted Comprehensive Plan (Last Updated) 9/14/2004 Environmental Advisory Council


Floodplain Ordinance Historical Commission

NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management Ordinance Municipal Road Crew


Municipal Operated Sewer



plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Chester County Hospital – Medic 91, Downingtown Fire Department

BLS Downingtown Fire Department, Good Fellowship Ambulance Club

Fire West Bradford Fire Company, West Chester Fire Department, Downingtown Fire Department

Police West Chester Borough Police Department, West Chester University Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Bradford Township considers their top hazards to be floods, hurricane, thunderstorms, and wind in




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Bradford Township have received $1,601,473 in


currently in effect within the township. There are five repetitive loss properties, and eight severe

repetitive loss properties.





402 Cottage Lane Acquisition/Elevation



418 Cottage Lane Acquisition/Elevation Severe Repetitive Loss

426 Cottage Lane Acquisition/Elevation Severe Repetitive Loss

502 River Bend Lane Acquisition/Elevation






690 North Creek Road Acquisition/Elevation Severe Repetitive Loss

1010 Valley Creek Road Property Protection

South Creek Road between

Cottage Ln and Withers Way



Allerton Rd between North

Creek Rd and Lucky Hill Rd



North Creek Rd between Jefferis

Bridge Rd and Hillsdale Rd



Valley Creek Rd between

Harmony Hill Rd and Ravine Rd



Downingtown Pike and Miles

Road

Install battery back-up and/or

generator hookup on traffic signal

Downingtown Pike and Bradford

Plaza



South Bradford Ave and West

Nields Street



N/A Acquire 4 wheel vehicle to support

response in limited access Harmony

Hill Natural Area

Chester County



East Brandywine Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,317 3,588 23 45 $2,802,240 4 17 $372,200

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Aqua America, Inc. Downingtown Municipal Water Authority

Capabilities


Building Code IBC 2009 Emergency Management Coordinator










plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital – Medic 91, Downingtown Fire Department

BLS Downingtown Fire Department, Westwood Fire Company

Fire East Brandywine Fire Company

Police East Brandywine Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Brandywine Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Brandywine Township have received $35,320 in

total payouts from a total of twelve flood claims since 1978. There are 25 flood insurance policies

currently in effect within the township. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive

loss properties.





Rt. 322 & Corner Ketch Road Purchase back-up generator for

traffic signal and installing required

connections on lights

Rt. 322 &

Bondsville/Hopewell Roads

Purchase back-up generator for



Rt. 322 and Brandywine

Village Shopping Center

Purchase back-up generator for



East Brandywine Baptist

Church

999 Horseshoe Pike

Install generator connection Potential comfort

station/shelter

Hopewell United Methodist

Church, 852 Hopewell Road

Install generator connection Potential comfort

station/shelter

2065 Bondsville Road Increase size of culvert crossing -

private property causes roadway

flooding

Creek Road at Crawford Road Flood wall protecting homes along

Brandywine Creek from flooding

785 Creek Rd Acquire/Elevate Structure





1081 Creek Rd Property Protection Lyndell Country Store

1061 Creek Rd Property Protection Lyndell Grange Church

1051 Creek Rd Property Protection Located in Historic

District

200 block Zynn Rd Construct Larger Culvert

Chester County



East Caln Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,372 1,370 4 16 $25,890,490 2 5 $25,487,550

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Aqua America, Inc. Downingtown Municipal Water Authority

Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Downingtown Fire Department

BLS Downingtown Fire Department

Fire Downingtown Fire Department

Police Downingtown Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Caln Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Caln Township have received $175,830 in total

payouts from a total of five flood claims since 1978. There are ten flood insurance policies currently in

effect within the township. There is one repetitive loss property, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





All Traffic signals within

the township

Purchase generator to be used during

prolonged power outages

25 Woodland Circle Acquisition/Elevation Repetitive Loss Property

Chester County



East Coventry Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,476 3,980 48 104 $6,083,590 43 84 $9,124,040

Utility Providers



Capabilities





Committee

Emergency Operations Plan GIS Capabilities on Staff or

Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Good Will Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, West End Fire Company

BLS Good Will Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, West End Fire Company

Fire Ridge Fire Company

Police East Coventry Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Coventry Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Coventry Township have received $591,153 in

total payouts from a total of 19 flood claims since 1978. There are 33 flood insurance policies currently

in effect within the township. There is one repetitive loss property, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.





285 Linfield Rd Acquisition/Elevation Repetitive Loss Property

Chester County



East Fallowfield Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,145 4,138 23 36 $2,130,810 15 26 $1,554,600

Utility Providers



Capabilities







NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management Ordinance

Municipal Road Crew




plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital Medic 93

BLS Modena Fire Company, Westwood Fire Company

Fire Modena Fire Company, Westwood Fire Company

Police East Fallowfield Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Fallowfield Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Fallowfield Township have received $24,588 in

total payouts from a total of seven flood claims since 1978. There are 15 flood insurance policies


loss properties.





Intersection of Mortonville Rd

and Sawmill Rd

Improve drainage to reduce flooding

Mortonville Rd Improve drainage to reduce flooding

Timacula Rd Improve drainage to reduce flooding

Frog Hollow Rd Improve drainage to reduce flooding

475 Doe Run Rd

East Fallowfield, PA 19320

Install a backup generator Police Station

Chester County



East Goshen Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,672 6,014 85 114 $39,126,040 19 22 $22,097,840

Utility Providers



Capabilities














plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Chester County Hospital – Medic 91, Malvern Fire Company

BLS Goshen Fire Company, Malvern Fire Company

Fire Goshen Fire Company, Malvern Fire Company

Police Westtown/East Goshen Regional Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Goshen Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Goshen Township have received $17,257 in total

payouts from a total of ten flood claims since 1978. There are 97 flood insurance policies currently in


properties.





Chester County



East Marlborough Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,978 3,918 39 54 $8,453,740 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO PECO

Aqua America,

Inc.

Chester Water

Authority

Kennett Square

Borough

Capabilities





Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Longwood Fire Company

BLS Longwood Fire Company

Fire Longwood Fire Company, Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company

Police East Marlborough Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Marlborough Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Marlborough Township have received $57,211 in

total payouts from a total of four flood claims since 1978. There are 21 flood insurance policies


loss properties.





All traffic signals within

the Township

Install back-up batteries for short

term power outages

Intersection of Walnut Rd

and Longwood Rd

Placement of temporary road

barriers

To address flooding of

roadway

721 Unionville Road Purchase and install back-up

generator

Municipal Building

Chester County



East Nantmeal Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

946 1,687 20 35 $4,113,180 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO No Service No commercial service

Capabilities



Capital Improvement Plan Engineer on Staff or Contacted Comprehensive Plan (Last Updated) 9/2014








plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital Medic 93, Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

BLS Uwchlan Ambulance Corps, Elverson EMS

Fire Glenmoore Fire Company, Twin Valley Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Nantmeal Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Nantmeal Township have received $15,336 in total

payouts from a total of two flood claims since 1978. There are five flood insurance policies currently in


properties.





Chester County



East Nottingham Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,092 5,373 26 40 $2,732,070 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO PPL PECO UGI Central Penn Gas Chester Water Authority

Capabilities





Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Union Fire Company No 1

Fire Union Fire Company No 1

Police Pennsylvania State Police – Avondale Barracks

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Nottingham Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Nottingham Township have received no payouts

from any flood claims since 1978. There are six flood insurance policies currently in effect within the

township. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





Chester County



East Pikeland Township


Chester County




Chester County



East Vincent Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,314 4,077 70 113 $8,981,770 6 10 $34,081,010

Utility Providers



Capabilities





Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Friendship Fire Company

BLS Friendship Fire Company

Fire Kimberton Fire Company, Liberty Fire Company, Ridge Fire Company

Police East Vincent Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Vincent Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Vincent Township have received $338,113 in total


effect within the township. There are two repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.





1805 Old Schuylkill Rd Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive loss property

1831 Old Schuylkill Rd Acquire/Elevate Structure Repetitive loss property

Hill Church Rd & Stony

Run Rd

Installation of warning signs

Old Schuylkill Rd Install gates to be closed during flood


French Creek Rd Installation of warning signs and stakes

Seven Stars Rd at Stony

Run Creek

Installation of warning signs

Chester County



East Whiteland Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,520 4,530 41 53 $46,295,030 0 0 $0

Utility Providers



Capabilities














plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Malvern Fire Company

BLS East Whiteland Fire Company, Malvern Fire Company

Fire East Whiteland Fire Company

Police East Whiteland Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

East Whiteland Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within East Whiteland Township have received $13,698 in

total payouts from a total of three flood claims since 1978. There are 18 flood insurance policies


loss properties.





Old Morehall Road Install gates to be closed during


Church Road Install gates to be closed during


Spring Rd Increase culvert size

Ravine Rd Strengthen Embankment

Hillbrook Circle Increase stormwater pipe size Small size compounds

flooding problems

Sewer pumping stations Purchase and install permanent

emergency generators

18 traffic signals within the

township

Purchase emergency generators

Chester County



Easttown Township


Chester County




Chester County



Elk Township


The township is 10.2 square miles in area. The 2010 Census counted 1.681 people within the

municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

745 1,469 8 12 $1,084,150 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO No Service Private Wells

Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Union Fire Company

Fire Union Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

Elk Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Elk Township have received no payouts from any flood

claims since 1978. There are two flood insurance policies currently in effect within the township. There

are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





952 Chesterville Rd

Lewisville, PA 19351

Install generator connection and

transfer switch

Township building/EOC

952 Chesterville Rd

Lewisville, PA 19351

Purchase backup generator Township building/EOC

Barren Rd North of

Chrome Rd

Install a 60” culvert To prevent roadway flooding

All township roads Ditching sides of roads to prevent

flooding

17 miles in length

Township wide Purchase road closed signs and

barriers and flashing lights

Chester County



Elverson Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

708 650 1 2 $53,130 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PPL No Service Elverson Water Company

Capabilities







NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management Ordinance

Municipal Road Crew


Municipal Sewer Committee



plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Elverson EMS

Fire Twin Valley Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

Elverson Borough considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Elverson Borough have received no payouts from any

flood claims since 1978. There is one flood insurance policy currently in effect within the borough.

There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





Chester County



Franklin Township


The township is 13.2 square miles in area. The 2010 Census counted 4.352 people within the

municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,794 2,659 24 41 $2,461,752 0 0 $0

Utility Providers



Capabilities





Updated) 2/15/2006

Environmental Preservation

Committee


Contracted



Stormwater Management






Zoning Ordinance (Last Updated) 3/1/2011 Municipal Zoning Board


plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Avondale Fire Company, West Grove Fire Company

Fire Avondale Fire Company, West Grove Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

Franklin Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Franklin Township have received no payouts from two

flood claims that were submitted since 1978. There are six flood insurance policies currently in effect

within the township. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





Township wide Area wide Communication System AM radio station in progress

Chester County



Highland Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

705 1,524 13 25 $3,246,710 1 1 $267,790

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Private Wells

Capabilities




Updated) 10/20/2001


Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital – Medic 93, Southern Chester County EMS

BLS Keystone Valley Fire Department, Parkesburg Fire Company

Fire Cochranville Fire Company, Keystone Valley Fire Department

Police Highland Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Highland Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Highland Township have received no payouts from

flood claims since 1978. There are no flood insurance policies currently in effect within the township.






Chester County



Honey Brook Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

612 866 0 0 $0 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PPL PECO Honey Brook Borough Water Authority

Capabilities





Committee



Contracted



Stormwater Management







plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Honey Brook Fire Company

Fire Honey Brook Fire Company

Police Honey Brook Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Honey Brook Borough Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s

listing, in addition the Borough considers hazardous materials related transportation incidents to be a

hazard to the borough. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as

outlined in the Risk Assessment section of the plan.


Honey Brook Borough is not a participating member of the National Flood Insurance Program.. There

are no flood insurance policies currently in effect within the township. There are no repetitive loss

properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





Chester County



Honey Brook Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,297 5,850 44 87 $5,096,100 4 7 $425,090

Utility Providers


PPL PECO Aqua America, Inc.

Capabilities









Municipal Sewer Authority*



plan.

*Member of the Northwestern Chester County Municipal Sewer Authority


Agency(ies)


BLS Elverson EMS, Honey Brook Fire Company

Fire Honey Brook Fire Company

Police Pennsylvania State Police – Embreville Barracks

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Honey Brook Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Honey Brook Township have received $20,000 in total

payouts from a total of two flood claims since 1978. There are six flood insurance policies currently in


properties.





Icedale Rd/Beaver Dam Rd

/Birdell Rd Intersection

Still assessing potential

mitigation project to resolve this

issue

Intersection prone to

flooding, cutting access off

a neighborhood

Chester County



Kennett Square Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,675 1,918 11 24 $2,195,010 12 16 $1,718,680

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Kennett Square Borough

Capabilities







NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management Ordinance Municipal Street Crew


Municipal Sewer

Municipal Water


plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Kennett Fire Company

Fire Kennett Fire Company

Police Kennett Square Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Kennett Square Borough considers their top three hazards to be flooding, snow, and wind in that order.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Kennett Square Borough have received $274,430 in

total payouts from a total of 12 flood claims since 1978. There are 13 flood insurance policies currently

in effect within the township. There is one repetitive loss property, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.





Cypress St to Cedar St

West of Union St

Improve/install drainage systems to

handle rain to reduce localized flooding

Entire length of E Birch St Improve culverts and inlet boxes to

better handle rain to reduced localized

flooding

Current boxes are all brick

650 W South Street

(Kennett Sewage plan)

Reengineer access road to sewage plant Plant does not get inundated

with flood water but access

road does.

Borough owned land in

Kennett Township

Chester County



Kennett Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,249 4,005 34 40 $4,885,600 12 16 $4,3784020

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Aqua America, Inc. Chester Water Authority

Capabilities







NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management Ordinance In Progress Municipal Road Crew




plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Kennett Fire Company, Longwood Fire Company

Fire Kennett Fire Company, Longwood Fire Company

Police Kennett Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police – Avondale Barracks

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Kennett Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Kennett Township have received $291,423 in total


effect within the township. There are three repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.





611 Creek Road Acquisition/Elevation Repetitive loss property



All traffic signals within

the township

Purchase generators to run light

during a power outage

Flood prone intersections

within the township



Flood prone bridges within

the township

Ongoing upkeep of the bridge to

ensure it is able to withstand the

force of flood waters

Flood prone bridges within

the township

Install warning signs to be utilized

during flood incidents

Chester County



London Britain Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,362 1,898 22 31 $2,215,730 0 0 $0

Utility Providers



Capabilities





Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)





Chester County



Risk Assessment

London Britain Township considers their top hazards to be flooding, winter storms, thunderstorms, and




According to the NFIP records, residents within London Britain Township have received $2,697 in total

payouts from a total of three flood claims since 1978. There are nine flood insurance policies currently

in effect within the township. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.





Flint Hill Rd & Mercer

Mill Rd



Mercer Mill Rd & N. Creek

Rd



Good Hope & London

Tract Rd/Broad Run Rd



London Tract Rd & New

Peltier Rd



Yeatmans Station Rd Install gates to be closed during


Flint Hill Rd Install a snow fence during snow

season to prevent snow drifting

Two Sections of the road

Indtiantown Rd Install a snow fence during snow


South Bank Rd Install a snow fence during snow


Strickersville Rd Install a snow fence during snow


Chester County



London Grove Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,004 4,290 41 68 $7,034,130 25 33 $4,978,350

Utility Providers


PECO PECO London Grove Township Municipal Authority

Capabilities














plan.


Agency(ies)





Chester County



Risk Assessment

London Grove Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within London Grove Township have received $14,723 in total



properties.




Township wide Emergency alerting systems/ public

notification system

Garden Station & Clay

Creek Rd



Lake Rd in the area of

Baltimore Pike



Lake Rd in the area of

Baltimore Pike

Reconfigure stream channel

Rt. 41 & Rt. 1 Purchase generator for the traffic

signal

Rt. 41 & Hepburn Rd Purchase generator for the traffic

signal

Rt. 41 & Baltimore Pike Purchase generator for the traffic

signal

372 Rose Hill Rd Purchase and install a backup

generator

Public Works Facility

Sullivan Rd & Clay Creek

Rd

Reconfigure stream channel

Indian Run Rd Widen bridge and bridge approaches

Clay Creek Rd south of

Garden Station



Chester County



Londonderry Township


Chester County




Chester County



Lower Oxford Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,538 2,864 29 34 $4,014,760 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO Central Penn Gas Company Chester Water Authority

Capabilities




Engineer on Staff or Contacted











plan.


Agency(ies)





Chester County



Risk Assessment

Lower Oxford Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Lower Oxford Township have received $0 in total

payouts from a total of 0 flood claims since 1978. There are three flood insurance policies currently in


properties.





Chester County



Malvern Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

960 1,101 0 0 $0 5 0 $0

Utility Providers



Capabilities




Updated) 12/15/2009


Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Malvern Fire Company

Fire Malvern Fire Company

Police Malvern Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Malvern Borough considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Malvern Borough have received $5,550 in total payouts

from a total of one flood claim since 1978. There are seven flood insurance policies currently in effect

within the borough. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





313 S Warren Ave Increase culvert size

10 through 142 W First Ave Elevation/Acquisition

2 through 10 Remington Ln Elevation/Acquisition

193 through 323 Paoli Pike Elevation/Acquisition

135 Powelton Ave Elevation/Acquisition

145 Powelton Ave Elevation/Acquisition

217 through 545 S. Warren Ave Elevation/Acquisition

Chester County



Modena Borough


The borough is 0.3 square miles in area. The 2010 Census counted 535 people within the municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

248 214 27 45 $2,3102040 5 6 $236,630

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Private Wells

Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Modena Fire Company

Fire Modena Fire Company

Police South Coatesville Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Modena Borough considers their top hazards to be flooding, thunderstorms, wind storms, winter storms,

then drought in that order. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as



According to the NFIP records, residents within Modena Borough have received no payouts from any

flood claims since 1978. There are 14 flood insurance policies currently in effect within the township.






Union Street Improve/strengthen stormwater drainage

6 N Brandywine Ave Elevation/Acquisition









Chester County



New Garden Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,842 5,820 42 63 $11,093,910 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Chester Water Authority

Capabilities












plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Avondale Fire Company

Fire Avondale Fire Company

Police New Garden Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

New Garden Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within New Garden Township have received $2,819 in total

payouts from a total of five flood claims since 1978. There are twenty seven flood insurance policies


loss properties.





Cedar Springs Rd @ Pemberton

Rd

Construct larger culvert

Egypt Run Road Construct larger culvert

Newark Rd & Baltimore Pike Purchase portable generator for

traffic signal

Chambers Rd & Baltimore Pike Purchase portable generator for

traffic signal

Scarlett Rd & Baltimore Pike Purchase portable generator for

traffic signal

Two generators

Scarlett Rd south of Baltimore

Pike

Purchase portable generator for

traffic signal

Newark Rd & Rt 41 Purchase portable generator for

traffic signal

Penn Green Rd & Rt 41 Purchase portable generator for

traffic signal

Southwood Rd and Rt 7 Purchase portable generator for

traffic signal

Chester County



New London Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,087 3,029 14 17 $1,789,080 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO No Service Aqua America, Inc.

Capabilities







NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management Ordinance Municipal Road Crew - Contracted




plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS West Grove Fire Company

Fire West Grove Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

New London Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within New London Township have received no payouts from

flood claims since 1978. There are six flood insurance policies currently in effect within the township.






902 State Rd Purchase and install backup

generator with transfer switch

Township Office/Regional

EOC

Chester County



Newlin Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

737 1,291 51 89 $4,054,900 43 66 $4,305.420

Utility Providers


PECO No Service No commercial water service

Capabilities














plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital Medic 93, Longwood Fire Company

BLS Good Fellowship Ambulance Club, Longwood Fire Company, Modena Fire Company

Fire Modena Fire Company, Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company, West Bradford Fire Company

Police Pennsylvania State Police – Embreeville & Avondale Barracks

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Newlin Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan. In addition to those natural hazards, the East Penn Railroad traverses the township, which

occasionally transports hazardous materials. There are also two pipelines that run through the township.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Newlin Township have received $2,819 in total payouts

from a total of nine flood claims since 1978. There are 15 flood insurance policies currently in effect






Brandywine Creek Rd side

of Harveys Bridge

Re-engineer bridge approach

Brandywine Creek Rd and

Harveys Bridge Rd



signage

Intersection prone to flooding

Rt 162 between Stargazers

Rd and Cannery Rd

Clear trees from above the

right of way

Section of road has high banks

and trees are prone to fall onto

utility lines and roadway

Chester County



North Coventry Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,400 4,748 178 291 $16,007,260 9 26 $2,942,150

Utility Providers


PECO PECO North Coventry Water Authority Superior Water Company

Capabilities







Committee


Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Goodwill Fire Company of Pottstown

BLS Goodwill Fire Company of Pottstown

Fire Norco Fire Company

Police North Coventry Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

North Coventry Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.


According to the NFIP records, residents within North Coventry Township have received $1,942,602 in


currently in effect within the township. There is one repetitive loss property and no severe repetitive

loss properties.





400 Highland Road Elevation/Acquisition Repetitive Loss Property

Chester County



Oxford Borough


Chester County




Chester County



Parkesburg Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,431 1,577 8 23 $1,922,410 1 2 $37,570

Utility Providers



Capabilities








Floodplain Ordinance Historical Preservation Committee NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management



Municipal Sewer Authority Municipal Water Authority Zoning Ordinance (Last Updated) 12/19/2011 Municipal Zoning Board These capabilities are in addition to the countywide capabilities outlined in the capability section of the

plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Keystone Valley Fire Department

Fire Keystone Valley Fire Department

Police Parkesburg Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Parkesburg Borough considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Parkesburg Borough have received no payouts from

flood claims since 1978. There are three flood insurance policies currently in effect within the borough.






Rt 10 and Rt 372 Purchase generator for traffic lights

329 W 1st Ave

Parkesburg, PA 19365

Purchase and install backup

generator

Keystone Valley Fire

Department

Bridge St Amtrak Bridge Re-engineer and re-build the bridge

to be able to support traffic

Borough wide Purchase debris removal equipment

(chainsaws, front end loaders, etc)

Borough wide Provide training to public works

crew on operation of debris removal

equipment

Chester County



Penn Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,858 3,231 11 16 $1,889,610 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Chester Water Authority

Capabilities







Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)





Chester County



Risk Assessment

Penn Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Penn Township have received no total payouts from any

flood claims since 1978. There are seven flood insurance policies currently in effect within the






Valley Road Engineering study to determine best

method to reduce flooding of

roadway

Ewing Road Install larger box culvert State-owned one lane bridge

Chester County



Pennsbury Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,468 1,817 23 31 $3,918,510 6 7 $3,187,790

Utility Providers


PECO No Service Chester Water Authority

Capabilities














plan.


Agency(ies)



Fire Longwood Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

Pennsbury Township considers their top three hazards to be hurricanes, tornados, and rail incidents in




According to the NFIP records, residents within Pennsbury Township have received $185,578 in total



properties.





US Rt 1 in the area of the

Brandywine creek

Install warning signals for times

when road is closed due to flooding

US Rt 1 at the railroad

tracks by Fairville Rd

Install warning signals at unguarded

railroad crossing

Chester County



Phoenixville Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

5,739 5,268 56 91 $15,198,259 12 14 $10,438,800

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Phoenixville Borough

Capabilities







Floodplain Ordinance Historical Assessment Review Board







plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Trappe Fire Company (Montgomery County)

BLS Trappe Fire Company (Montgomery County)

Fire Phoenixville Hook & Ladder Fire Company

Police Phoenixville Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Phoenixville Borough considers their top three hazards to be flooding, wind, and fire in that order.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Phoenixville Borough have received 962,470 in total


effect within the borough. There is one repetitive loss property and one severe repetitive loss property.





Borough Water Plant Flood Wall If plant is inundated with water, entire

borough will lose water service

Borough wide Increase coordination with

Blue March Dam (ACE)

Need better notification/warning of

water releases from dam

All traffic lights

within the borough

Small generators to power stop

lights

Chester County



Pocopson Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,455 1,826 42 87 $7,068,540 7 11 $2,533,020

Utility Providers



Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)



Fire Longwood Fire Company, Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

Pocopson Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan


According to the NFIP records, residents within Pocopson Township have received $2,117,604 in total


effect within the township. There are seven repetitive loss properties, and two severe repetitive loss

properties.




Township wide Emergency alerting systems Severe Repetitive Loss

Property

5 Cabin Club Lane Elevation/Acquisition Severe Repetitive Loss

Property

15 Cabin Club Lane Elevation/Acquisition Severe Repetitive Loss

Property

2 Cabin Club Lane Elevation/Acquisition Repetitive Loss Property





814 Denton Hollow Rd Elevation/Acquisition Repetitive Loss Property

1332 Lenape Rd Property Protection Repetitive Loss Property

Lenape Forge

Street Road (PA 926) at

Pocopson Rd



Other half in Birmingham

Township

Chester County



Sadsbury Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,589 2,383 41 64 $6,745,230 0 0 $0

Utility Providers



Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Keystone Fire Company

Fire Keystone Fire Company, Sadsburyville Fire Company

Police Sadsbury Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Sadsbury Township considers their top hazard to be flooding. Municipal specific risk information

supplements the countywide risks as outlined in the Risk Assessment section of the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Sadsbury Township have received $9,943 in total

payouts from a total of three flood claims since 1978. There are ten flood insurance policies currently in


properties.





Greenbelt Drive Increase the size of the opening

under the bridge

Debris gets caught under

the bridge causing

additional flooding

Sections of Old Mill Road Install gates to be closed during


Chester County



Schuylkill Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,154 4,368 30 74 $20,721,490 7 18 $6,237,800

Utility Providers



Capabilities














plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS West End Fire Company

BLS West End Fire Company

Fire Valley Forge Fire Company

Police Schuylkill Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Schuylkill Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Schuylkill Township have received $336,395 in total


effect within the township. There are one repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.





493 State Creek Rd Acquisition/Elevation Repetitive Loss Property

Rt 23 & Whitehorse Rd Obtain generator for traffic signal

Rt 23 & Pawling Rd Obtain generator for traffic signal

Rt 23 & County Club Rd Obtain generator for traffic signal

County Club Rd and Valley

Park Rd

Obtain generator for traffic signal

S Whitehorse Road Construct Larger Culvert PennDOT Road

Creek Rd Bridge Protect Structure w/ Barrier

East Phillip Dr Construct Larger Culvert Possible development of

neighboring property

Chester County



South Coatesville Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

722 510 5 24 $2,254,570 2 9 $1,197,300

Utility Providers



Capabilities












plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Modena Fire Company

Fire Modena Fire Company

Police South Coatesville Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

South Coatesville Borough considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within South Coatesville Borough have received no from any

flood claims since 1978. There are no flood insurance policies currently in effect within the borough.






Chester County



South Coventry Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,184 1,835 15 17 $2,079,510 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO No Service Private Wells Township supplied water

Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Goodwill Pottstown EMS

BLS Goodwill Pottstown EMS

Fire Ridge Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

South Coventry Township considers their top hazards to be the same as the County’s listing with an

additional hazard of tornados. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as



According to the NFIP records, residents within south Coventry Township have received $11,945 in

total payouts from a total of two flood claims since 1978. There are three flood insurance policies


loss properties.





Bealor Rd Construct Larger Culvert

190 Ridgeview Dr

Purchase and install a backup

generator

Woodridge Sewer Plant

Schoolhouse Road &

Porter’s Mill Rd

Install flood water collection boxes

and piping

Direct water under

Schoolhouse Rd instead of

over

Countryville Rd Install warning signs for bridges that

flood

Two bridges

Young Rd Install warning signs for bridge that

flood

Chester County



Spring City Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,163 1,334 23 35 $8,445,720 17 31 $6,480,670

Utility Providers



Capabilities


Building Code UCC Emergency Management Coordinator







Municipal Sewer Committee



plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS West End Fire Company

BLS West End Fire Company

Fire Liberty Fire Company

Police Spring City Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Spring City Borough considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Spring City Borough have received $97,719 in total

payouts from a total of eleven flood claims since 1978. There are 15 flood insurance policies currently

in effect within the borough. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss

properties.





North Main St & East Bridge St Purchase generator for traffic signal

North Main St & East Bridge St Purchase generator for sewer pumping

station

1 Riverside Dr Property Protection

1 S Main St Property Protection

10 Bridge St Property Protection

20 E Bridge St Property Protection








290 Water St Property Protection

291 Water St Property Protection

Chester County



Thornbury Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,083 1,115 16 17 $2,157,220 3 4 $4,726,690

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Aqua America, Inc. Chester Water Authority

Capabilities












plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Chester County Hospital Medic 91

BLS Good Fellowship Ambulance, Concordville Fire Department (Delaware County)

Fire West Chester Fire Department

Police Westtown/East Goshen Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Thornbury Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Thornbury Township have received $53,817 in total

payouts from a total of eight flood claims since 1978. There are 13 flood insurance policies currently in


properties.





8 Township Drive Obtain generator EOC/Township Office

Rt 202 and Rt 926 Obtain generator for traffic signal

Rt 202 and Green Tree Dr Obtain generator for traffic signal

Rt 926 and Westtown-Thorton Rd Obtain generator for traffic signal

Rt 926 and New St Obtain generator for traffic signal

Rt 926 and S. Westtown Rd Obtain generator for traffic signal

Rt 926 and Creek Rd Install gates to be closed during


Rt 926 and Westtown-Thorton Rd Install gates to be closed during


Westtown-Thorton Rd south of

Railroad Bridge



Westtown-Thorton Rd north of

Railroad Bridge



Rt 926 and S. Westtown Rd Install gates to be closed during


Rt 926 from Rt 202 to Cheyney Rd Assessment of flood prone areas

along roadway

Chester County



Tredyffrin Township


Chester County




Chester County



Upper Oxford Township


Chester County




Chester County



Upper Uwchlan Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

4,023 4,290 42 59 $6,917,420 0 0 $0

Utility Providers



Capabilities







Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital – Medic 93, Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

BLS Dowingtown Fire Department, Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

Fire

East Brandywine Fire Company, Glenmoore Fire Company, Lionville Fire

Company, Ludwigs Corner Fire Company

Police Upper Uwchlan Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Upper Uwchlan Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within Upper Uwchlan Township have received $137,101 in

total payouts from a total of seven flood claims since 1978. There are 24 flood insurance policies

currently in effect within the township. There are two repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive

loss properties.





Township wide Tree trimming and/or

selective removal

Fellowship Rd at Red Bone Rd. Raise roadway

Krause Rd Stormwater culvert and basin

re-sizing

Greenridge Rd Stormwater culvert and basin

re-sizing

2 Kiloran Wynd Acquisition/Elevation Repetitive Loss Property

80 Saint Andrews Ln Acquisition/Elevation Repetitive Loss Property

Font Rd Protect Structure w/ Barrier

St. Andrews Lane Protect Structure w/ Barrier

Krauser Rd Protect Structure w/ Barrier

Dorothy Ln Protect Structure w/ Barrier

Moore Rd & Turnstone Way Protect Structure w/ Barrier

Lyndell Rd Protect Structure w/ Barrier

Larkins Bridge Protect Structure w/ Barrier Located in a Historic District

Windsor Schoolhouse Protect Structure w/ Barrier Located in a Historic District

Chester County



Uwchlan Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

6,161 6,203 8 10 $1,065,710 2 2 $212,420

Utility Providers



Capabilities












plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

BLS Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

Fire Lionville Fire Company

Police Uwchlan Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Uwchlan Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Uwchlan Township have received $15,555 in total



properties.





Andover Dr Construct Larger Culvert

Rutgers Dr Construct Larger Culvert

Crump Rd Construct Larger Culvert

Baker Dr Construct Larger Culvert

Windsor Cir Construct Larger Culvert

N. Milford Rd Construct Larger Culvert

Whitford Rd Construct Larger Culvert

Newcomen Rd Construct Larger Culvert

Peck Rd Construct Larger Culvert

Brookwood Dr & Good Dr Install gates to be closed during


Rt. 100 & Worthington Rd. Purchase and install generator for

traffic light

Chester County



Valley Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,565 3,034 67 97 $8,442,310 4 5 $472,120

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Valley Township PA American Water

Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Westwood Fire Company

Fire Westwood Fire Company

Police Valley Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Valley Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within Valley Township have received $127,212 in total



properties.





Township wide Conduct citizen preparedness

programs

200 Block South Mount Airy

Rd

Construct upstream basin

S. Mt. Airy Rd Install gates to be closed during flood


890 W. Lincoln Hwy


Purchase and install emergency

generator

Municipal Complex

Rock Run Dam Install a dam failure alarm

Rock Creek Restore old dam

Sucker Run Drainage Plan Improve basins to hold water longer

Airport Rd & Lincoln Highway Purchase a backup generator for the

traffic signal


generator

Highlands Pump

station

1 Earhart Dr

Coatesville PA, 19320


generator

Chester County

Airport

South Mount Airy Rd Build an emergency access off the Rt

30 bypass

Main St Replace culvert

Grove Ave. Bridge Engineer and fix erosion to the bridge

and exposed sewer main

Hemlock Ave. Bridge Engineer and fix erosion which is

undermining the bridge

Park Ave. Bridge Engineer and fix erosion to the bridge

Chester County



Wallace Township


Chester County




Chester County



Warwick Township


Chester County




Chester County



West Bradford Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

4,636 6,322 28 47 $5,050,550 141 214 $78,798,290

Utility Providers



Capabilities



Capital Improvement Plan Engineer on Staff or Contacted Comprehensive Plan (Last Updated) 6/2009



Floodplain Ordinance Historical Commission



Municipal Operated Sewer



plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital – Medic 93, Chester County Hospital – Medic 91, Downingtown Fire Department

BLS Downingtown Fire Department, Good Fellowship Ambulance Club, Modena Fire Company

Fire West Bradford Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Bradford Township considers their top hazards to be flooding, thunderstorms and wind. Municipal


the plan.


According to the NFIP records, residents within West Bradford Township have received $18,940 in total



properties.





Downingtown Pike between

Harmony Hill Rd and Skelp Level Rd



signage

Would require 4 gates

Downingtown Pike between Hall Rd

and Harmony Hill Rd

Reinforce bank and roadway River erosion.

PennDOT working on

permits 10/2013

Chester County



West Brandywine Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

2,720 4,434 17 27 $1,853,070 2 2 $222,700

Utility Providers



Capabilities












plan.


Agency(ies)



Fire East Brandywine Fire Company, Wagontown Fire Company

Police West Brandywine Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Brandywine Township considers their top hazards to be floods, thunderstorms, wind, and winter

storms. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as outlined in the Risk



According to the NFIP records, residents within West Brandywine Township have received $5,030 in

total payouts from a total of two flood claims since 1978. There are nine flood insurance policies


loss properties.





Township wide Assess potential sites that have

fertilizer storage

Manor Rd between

Reeceville Rd and

Dogwood Dell

Re-engineer road or improve

signage

Poor visibility causing

hazard for drivers and

emergency vehicles

Manor Rd and Horseshoe

Pike

Assess potential impact from new

Aqua water storage tank

Chester County



West Caln Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,412 7,503 38 90 $8,724,640 10 13 $876,890

Utility Providers



Capabilities







Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)



Fire Matins Coroner Fire Company, Wagontown Fire Company

Police West Caln Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Caln Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.


According to the NFIP records, residents within West Caln Township have received $1,873 in total

payouts from a total of two flood claims since 1978. There are eight flood insurance policies currently


properties.





Chester County



West Chester Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

4,091 3,239 96 128 $19,644,060 14 15 $5,720,480

Utility Providers



Capabilities




Updated) 11/28/2000


Committee


Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Good Fellowship Ambulance Club

Fire West Chester Fire Department

Police West Chester Borough Police Department, West Chester University Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Chester Borough considers their top three hazards to be flooding, winter storms, and wind in that

order. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as outlined in the Risk



According to the NFIP records, residents within West Chester Borough have received $3,499,566 in


currently in effect within the borough. There are eight repetitive loss properties, and is one severe






Southeast Quadrant Construct larger culverts/pipes

Barnard Street Railroad Bridge Reduce roadway flooding

Goodwill Fire Company Obtain back-up generator

Chester County



West Fallowfield Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,070 2,702 12 25 $1,266,920 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO No Service No commercial water service

Capabilities












plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Christiana Fire Company (Lancaster County)

Fire Cochranville Fire Company

Police West Fallowfield Township Police

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Fallowfield Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Fallowfield Township have received $367 in total

payouts from a total of one flood claims since 1978. There are four flood insurance policies currently in


properties.





Rt 41 and Rt 10 Generator for traffic light

Rt 41 and Highland Rd Generator for traffic light

Chester County



West Goshen Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

7,061 8,873 165 211 $120,481,560 8 11 $11,321,560

Utility Providers



Capabilities













plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Good Fellowship Ambulance Club, Goshen Fire Company

Fire Goshen Fire Company, West Chester Fire Department

Police West Goshen Police Department, West Chester University Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Goshen Township considers their top three hazards to be flood, wind and thunderstorms in that

order. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as outlined in the Risk



According to the NFIP records, residents within West Goshen Township have received $245,209 in total

payouts from 26 flood claims since 1978. There are 68 flood insurance policies currently in effect






103 Oak Lane Improve Culvert

East Chestnut and

Montgomery



Will require 3 gates

Chester County



West Grove Borough



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

893 1,060 0 0 $0 1 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Borough of West Grove

Capabilities






Floodplain Ordinance Historical Preservation Committee NFIP Participant Municipal Planning Commission Stormwater Management






plan.


Agency(ies)




Police West Grove Borough Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Grove Borough considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Grove Borough have never submitted any flood

insurance claims since 1978. There are no flood insurance policies currently in effect within the

borough. There are no repetitive loss properties, and no severe repetitive loss properties.





Chester County



West Marlborough Township


The township is 17.1 square miles in area. The 2010 Census counted 814 people within the

municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

415 1,035 24 41 $7,327,300 3 4 $2,549,920

Utility Providers



Capabilities






Committee



Contracted









plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Brandywine Hospital – Medic 93, Southern Chester County EMS

BLS Avondale Fire Company, Modena Fire Company

Fire Avondale Fire Company, Modena Fire Company, Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Marlborough Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Marlborough Township have received $918 in

total payouts from a total of one flood claim since 1978. There are three flood insurance policies


loss properties.





Chester County



West Nantmeal Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

980 2,058 14 28 $3,274,710 1 1 $163,640

Utility Providers


PPL No Service Private Wells

Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Honey Brook Fire Company, Elverson EMS

Fire Glenmoore Fire Company, Twin Valley Fire Company


Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Nantmeal Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Nantmeal Township have received $2,204 in total

payouts from a total of three flood claims since 1978. There are seven flood insurance policies currently


properties.





Rt 401 in the area of

Ironstone Lane

Increase size of drainage basin/culvert

Chester County



West Nottingham Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

989 2,214 39 131 $3,611,780 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO No Service No commercial service

Capabilities















plan.


Agency(ies)




Police West Nottingham Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Nottingham Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Nottingham Township have received no payouts

from flood claims since 1978. There are seven flood insurance policies currently in effect within the






Fremont Rd between Willow Rd

and King Pen Rd



Park Road between Veteran’s

Drive and Sand Hill Rd



Rt 272 and Herr Drive Generator connection for traffic signal

Rt 272 and Herr Drive Back-up generator for traffic signal

225 Lees Bridge Rd Elevation/Acquisition

227 Lees Bridge Rd Elevation/Acquisition

245 Park Rd Elevation/Acquisition




Chester County



West Pikeland Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,639 2,243 53 89 $13,023,170 8 8 $6,507,370

Utility Providers


PECO PECO Aqua America, Inc. Private Wells

Capabilities













plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

BLS Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

Fire Kimberton Fire Company, Lionville Fire Company

Police West Pikeland Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Pikeland Township considers their top hazards to be flooding, thunderstorms, wind, winter storms,




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Pikeland Township have received no payouts

from flood claims since 1978. There are 29 flood insurance policies currently in effect within the






Horseshoetrail Rd Rebuild bridge and road

Various township and state roads Vegetation trimming

Chester County



West Sadsbury Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

1,027 2,492 53 87 $5,855,680 0 0 $0

Utility Providers


PECO PPL No Service PA American Water

Capabilities












plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Lancaster County EMS, Brandywine Hospital Medic 93

BLS Keystone Valley Fire Department, Christiana Fire Company (Lancaster County)

Fire Keystone Valley Fire Department

Police West Sadsbury Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Sadsbury Township considers their top natural hazards to be the same as the County’s listing.




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Sadsbury Township have received $42,871 in

total payouts from a total of seven flood claims since 1978. There are two flood insurance policies


loss properties.





4119 West Lincoln Hwy


Install back-up generator West Sadsbury Police

Station

6400 N. Moscow Rd


Install back-up generator West Sadsbury

Township Building

Rt 10 and Rt 30 Generator connection for traffic signal

Rt 10 and Commons Drive Generator connection for traffic signal

Rt 30 and Commons Drive Generator connection for traffic signal

Rt 10 and Rt 30 Back-up generator for traffic signal

Rt 10 and Commons Drive Back-up generator for traffic signal

Rt 30 and Commons Drive Back-up generator for traffic signal

Chester County



West Vincent Township


Chester County




Chester County



West Whiteland Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

6,209 6,245 239 388 $170,936,900 24 26 $65,669,630

Utility Providers



Capabilities











plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Chester County Hospital Medic 91, Uwchlan Ambulance Corps

BLS East Whiteland Fire Company, Good Fellowship Ambulance Club. West Whiteland Fire Company

Fire West Whiteland Fire Company

Police West Whiteland Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

West Whiteland Township considers their top three hazards to be floods, winter storms, and hurricane in




According to the NFIP records, residents within West Whiteland Township have received $738,976 in


currently in effect within the township. There are six repetitive loss properties, and four severe






113 N. Locust Lane Elevation/Acquisition Severe Repetitive Loss

Property


Property

116 N. Locust Lane Elevation/Acquisition

117 N. Locust Lane Elevation/Acquisition


Property

117 Valley Road Elevation/Acquisition




510 Winding Way Elevation/Acquisition



Valley Creek Remove silt/clean the creek bed

Chester County



Westtown Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

3,509 4,171 26 27 $26,821,440 46 52 $35,555,558

Utility Providers



Capabilities










Township Managed Sewer



plan.


Agency(ies)

ALS Chester County Hospital – Medic 91

BLS Good Fellowship Ambulance Club, Goshen Fire Company

Fire Goshen Fire Company, West Chester Fire Department

Police Westtown East Goshen Regional Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Westtown Township considers their top three hazards to be flooding, winter storms, and wild fires in




According to the NFIP records, residents within Westtown Township have received $9,275 in total

payouts from a total of five flood claims since 1978. There are 29 flood insurance policies currently in

effect within the township. There is one repetitive loss property, and no severe repetitive loss properties





Oakboure Road at SEPTA Tracks Construct Larger Culvert

Culvert under South New Street Construct Larger Culvert

E Street Rd at Chester Creek Install gates to be closed


signage

Will require 2 gates

Township Wide Conduct wild land

management study

Chester County



Willistown Township



municipality.



Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

Parcel

Count

Building

Count

Structure

Value

4,417 5,560 107 142 $28,761,830 12 13 $3,234,880

Utility Providers



Capabilities











Municipal Owned Sewer



plan.


Agency(ies)


BLS Goshen Fire Company, Malvern Fire Company, Paoli Fire Company

Fire Goshen Fire Company, Malvern Fire Company, Newtown Square Fire Company, Paoli Fire Company

Police Willistown Township Police Department

Chester County



Risk Assessment

Willistown Township considers their top three hazards to be flooding, hurricanes, winter storms, and

high winds in that order. Municipal specific risk information supplements the countywide risks as



According to the NFIP records, residents within Willistown Township have received $17,203 in total

payouts from eight flood claims since 1978. There are 55 flood insurance policies currently in effect

within the township. There is one repetitive loss property, and no severe repetitive loss properties.



Township wide Public Information

Programs


1 Eisenhower Dr Elevation/Acquisition Repetitive Loss Property

116 Davis Rd Elevation/Acquisition Structure in 500 yr flood, portion

of property in floodway

Behind Malvern Fire Company Increase drainage basin size Flood water impacting main

sewer pumping station

Family Life Basin Increase drainage basin size Flood water impacting main


Rustmont Homeowners

Association

Increase drainage basin size Flood water impacting main


Paoli Pike west of Rustin Ln

and Devon Rd

Increase size of drainage

pipe crossing under road

Hillview Rd between Fox Chase

and Bar Rd

Increase Culvert Size

Whitehorse Rd between Rabbit

Run Rd and Grubbs Mill Rd



signage

Jaffery Rd over Crum Creek Install gates to be closed


signage

Whitehorse Rd between Davis

Rd and Fox Chase Rd

Strengthen Bridge/Re-

engineer bridge approaches

Whitehorse Rd between Rabbit

Run Rd and Grubbs Mill Rd

Strengthen Bridge/Re-


Jaffery Rd over Crum Creek Strengthen Bridge/Re-


Chester County




DRAFT Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan€¦ · 1. Reduce the risk to public safety and...

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