2.0 hazard identification and risk · pdf file2.0 hazard identification and risk assessment...

2016OttawaCountyNaturalHazardMitigationPlan 2-1

DevelopedbyResourceSolutionsAssociates,Norwalk,Ohio

2.0HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONANDRISKASSESSMENTOttawaCountyhasexperiencedmanynaturaldisastersinthepastcentury,rangingfromtornadoesandblizzardstofloodsanddroughts.ThepurposeoftheHazardIdentificationandRiskAssessment(HIRA)istoidentifythenumberandfrequencyofdisastersinOttawaCountyandtherisktopeople,property,andstructuresthatthosehazardscause.Thisprocessallowsofficialsandresidentstobetterprepareforincidentswhentheyoccur.ThefirstsectionoftheHIRA,theCountyProfile,providesinformationonOttawaCountyanditsjurisdictions.IntheHazardIdentificationsection,eachhazardthatposesathreattoOttawaCountywillbediscussedindetail.Thefinalsection,RiskandVulnerabilityAssessment,willexplaintherisksandvulnerabilitiesOttawaCountymustaddresstoprepareforandmitigatetheidentifiedhazards.2.1COUNTYPROFILEOttawaCountyislocatedinnorthwestOhioandwasfoundedonMarch6,1840.ItwaspartoftheBlackSwamp,lyingonthefareasternborderofthismurkywetland.ItwasalsopartoftheFireLandswhereOhiolandwasgrantedtoConnecticutresidentsafterwartimeburningoflandtheyownedinthatstate.ThecountywasnamedfortheOttawaIndianswhoinhabitedtheareabeforeitwassettled,andthenamemeans“trader”inreferencetoalltheexchangingandtradingthatoccurredbetweentheIndiansandthefirstsettlers.ThecountywasformedfrompartsofErie,Lucas,andSanduskycounties,whichborderOttawaCountytothisday.OttawaCountyisthethirdsmallestlandcountyinOhio,havingjust255squaremilesofland.Thereis,however,another330squaremilesofwaterthatmakesuptherestofOttawaCounty.ThisiswhereduringtheWarof1812,CommodoreOliverHazardPerryandtheUSNavydefeatedtheBritishRoyalNavyinanextendedanddeadlybattle.TodayitiswherethousandsofvisitorsflocktovisittheLakeErieIslandsforfishing,camping,andvacationfun.Theareaispepperedwithmarinas,privateandcommercialvessels,andindividualwatercraftonasunnydaybetweenMayandOctober.Vacationhomes,timeshareproperties,andrentalsdotthecoastlineasLakeEriefeedsnotonlythetouristindustry,butalsothecommercialfishingbusinessesandtransportationspecialtiesinthewaterfrontcounty.ThewatersofLakeErieformtheentirenorthernborderofthecountyandconstituteaninternationalborderwithCanada.ThecountyisalsoborderedbyErieCounty(southeast),SanduskyCounty(south),WoodCounty(west),andLucasCounty(northwest).Itisapproximately37milesfromeasttowest,andatthebroadestpoint,slightlylessthan11milesnorthtosouth.Athree-personBoardofCommissionersgovernsthecounty.ElectedrepresentativesfromOhioCongressionalDistricts5and9,OhioHouseDistrict89,andOhioSenateDistrict2representthecountyatthestateandfederallevelsofgovernment.

2-2 2016OttawaCountyNaturalHazardMitigationPlan


2.1.1DemographicsThecurrentpopulation,accordingto2014USCensusestimates,is41,154.Thisrepresentsa0.7%decreasefromthe2010Censusfigures.Thepopulationhasdecreasedconsistentlysince2000,adownwardtrendthatisexpectedtocontinueoverthenextseveraldecades.

Table2-1:OttawaCountyPopulationStatisticsStatistic Figure

TotalArea 585sq.milesLandArea 255sq.milesWaterArea 330sq.milesPopulation(2014Estimate) 41,154PopulationDensity 163persons/sq.mileFemalePopulation 50.5%MalePopulation 49.5%Populationunder18 19.6%Populationover65 22.1%White 92.5%AfricanAmericanorBlack 1.0%Other 6.5%NumberofHouseholds 17,366AverageHouseholdSize 2.33MedianHouseholdIncome $53,599HouseholdsBelowPovertyLevel 10.1%

WithinOttawaCounty,thereare27,876housingunits.80.5%ofalloccupiedhousingunitsareowner-occupied;themedianvalueofthesehousingunitsis$136,000.Approximately37%ofhousingunitsinthecountyarevacant.(Vacanciesincludehomesthatareoccupiedseasonallyorintermittently.)Thereareapproximately4,002mobilehomesacrossOttawaCounty.Themediangrossrentforalltypesofrentalpropertiesis$716permonthwhilethemediancosttoownahomeis$1,241permonth.TherearemanyspecialresidentialhousingfacilitiespresentinOttawaCounty.Asof2010,thetypesoffacilitiesandnumbersofresidentsineachtypeareasfollows:

Table2-2:SpecialHousingFacilitiesFacility ApproximatePopulation

Nursing/SkilledNursingFacilities 393Local/MunicipalJailsandConfinementFacilities 75ResidentialTreatmentCentersforAdults 14GroupHomesforAdults 7

2.1.2IncorporatedJurisdictionsOttawaCountyiscomprisedofonecity,sevenincorporatedvillages,twelvetownshipsandtwenty-twounincorporatedneighborhoods.Onevillageandonetownshipareislands.



Map2-1:OttawaCounty

ClayCenterClayCenterisoneofthesmallervillagesinOttawaCounty.Itwasfoundedinthe1880’sasthecenterofClayTownship,anarearichinfarmlandandproduction.ClayCenterhasalmostnovariationinelevation,sittingonnearlyflatterrain.TheNorthBranchofTurtleCreekflowsthroughtheextremenorthernendofClayCenter,andtheSouthBranchofTurtleCreekpassesjustsouthofthecorporationline.ThesewaterwaysbothflowintotheToussaintRiverWatershed.

Table2-3:ClayCenterStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 276White 98.2%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0Other 1.8%NumberofHouseholds 103PersonsperHousehold 2.68

ElmoreThevillageofElmoreislocatedinsouthwestOttawaCounty;thePortageRiverflowsfromthesouthwestcornercomingfromSanduskyCounty,alongthenorthformingtheborderofthevillage,andouttothenortheastheadingtowardOakHarbor.Inthisarea,theriverbendsandtwists,slowingtherapidflowofwaterasitheadstowardLakeErie.

Mouse Island

PORT CLINTON

Marblehead

AllenTOWNSHIP

Oak Harbor

Rocky Ridge

Elmore

Genoa

ClayCenter

Put-in-Bay

SalemTOWNSHIP

Catawba IslandTOWNSHIP

ClayTOWNSHIP

CarrollTOWNSHIP

PortageTOWNSHIP

BentonTOWNSHIP

BayTOWNSHIP

Put-in-BayTOWNSHIP

HarrisTOWNSHIP

ErieTOWNSHIP

DanburyTOWNSHIP

Green Island

Rattlesnake IslandBallast Island

Sugar Island

North Bass Island

Middle Bass Island

South Bass Island

Johnson's Island

0 102.5 5 7.5

Miles

GIS Dat a S ou rcesPo li t ical Bo undar ies and Transportat ion - ODOT, 2008

Bright yellow denotes incorporated areas (cities & villages)This map is a product of the Ohio

Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)

Office of Coastal Management and is

intended to provide general information only.

coastal.ohiodnr.gov Map created: 02/15

Ottawa County OT1



Industrially,ElmoreishometotheoriginalElmorevehicle,eventuallyboughtoutbytoday’sGeneralMotors.Itisalsohometoberylliumproduction,usedinnuclearpower,nuclearweapons,andspaceprogramtechnology.Materion,oneofthecounty’slargestemployers,isaberylliumproductionfacilitylocatedoutsidethevillageinadjacentHarrisTownship.ElmoreisprimarilyabedroomcommunityforpeoplecommuningtoworkinnearbyToledobutishometomanyothersmallbusinesses.SchedelArboretumandGardens,apicturesqueorientalgarden,islocatedinElmorealongthePortageRiver.

Table2-4:ElmoreStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 1,410White 96.4%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.5%Other 3.1%NumberofHouseholds 558PersonsperHousehold 2.53

GenoaThevillageofGenoaislocatedinwesternOttawaCounty,justnorthoftheSanduskyCountyborderandeastoftheLucasandWoodcountylines.Graymont,foundedin1948,isoneoftheworld’sleadingproducersoflimestoneproducts.ThecompanyoperatesaplantinGenoathatisoneofthelargestdolomitelimehydrationfacilitiesintheUnitedStates.OtherGenoaresidentsworkinretailandserviceestablishments,ordriveafewmilestothebusinessesandmanufacturingineastToledo.ChildreninGenoaattendGenoaPublicSchools.Thereareavarietyofchurchesinthevillage,includingRomanCatholicandProtestantdenominations.

Table2-5:GenoaStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 2.336White 96.2%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.4%Other 3.2%NumberofHouseholds 944PersonsperHousehold 2.38

MarbleheadMarbleheadislocatedonthetipoftheMarbleheadpeninsulaborderingtheSanduskyBay.Thevillageisamajorlimestoneproducer,haulinglimestoneproductoutoftheareaonlakefreighters.MarbleheadhastheoldestoperatinglighthouseontheGreatLakes,andishometoaU.S.CoastGuardstation.Johnson’sIslandonthefartipofMarbleheadonceservedasaConfederateofficerPOWcampintheCivilWarandhasaConfederatecemeterywithinitsbounds.



Table2-6:MarbleheadStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 903White 98.7%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.2%Other 1.1%NumberofHouseholds 417PersonsperHousehold 2.17

OakHarborOakHarboristhemostpopulatedvillageinOttawaCounty.Locatedcentrally,OakHarborsitsonthePortageRiverasitwidensanddeepens,leadingouttoLakeErie.OakHarbor’srootslieinlumberproductionandshippingallaroundtheworld,eveninthe1800’s.Thevillage,thennamedHartford,washometomanysawmillsandlumberyards.Whenpostofficeconfusionrequiredthenameofthevillagetochange,“Oak”waschosenbecauseoftheprevalenceofhighqualityoakwoodproductsandlumber,and“Harbor”representedtheimportanceofthePortageRivertothevillage.SomeofthelargestvesselsontheGreatLakescameoutofOakHarbor,transportingproductallovertheworld.Today,OakHarborishometosmallbusinesses(includinglumberyards),servicesforresidents,andthewell-knownAppleFestivalinmid-October.

Table2-7:OakHarborStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 2,759White 97.5%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0.3%Other 2.2%NumberofHouseholds 1,153PersonsperHousehold 2.39

PortClintonPortClintonisthelargestandmostpopulousjurisdictioninOttawaCountyandservesasthecountyseat.Itislocated44mileseastofToledoand90mileswestofClevelandbetweenthelakefrontandStateRoute2,amajoreast-westthoroughfareleadingfromToledotoClevelandandintoNewYorkState.ThePortageRiverentersLakeErieonthenorthwestsideofthecity.Theentirenorthernsideofthecityisboundedbylakeshore;thesouthernsideisascloseas¼milefromtheSanduskyRiverasitemptiesintotheSanduskyBay.Therearenosignificantditchesorcreeksinsidethecity.Theterrainismostlyflatwithlittlechangeinelevationfromonesideofthecitytotheother.Whenthecitywasfoundedintheearly1800s,theareawasmostlyorchards,vineyards,andfields.AggressiveindustrialdevelopmentbolsteredPortClinton’spopulationinthemid-1900s



assecondaryautomotiveandproductionfacilities,includingStandardProducts,SilganIndustries,CampPerry,andothers,broughtmanufacturingjobstothecity.Manyindustriesceasedtooperateinthelate1900sandearly2000s.Astheseindustriesslowlydisappeared,thepopulationdecreasedaspeoplemovedelsewhereforemployment.PortClinton,alongwithmanyotherjurisdictions,enduredaneconomicdownturnbeforethetouristindustrywasembracedandgrowthbegantoserveatransientpopulationthroughservice-basedbusinessopportunitiesinrecentyears.SituatedontheshoresofLakeErie,PortClintonispartofwhatisnowreferredtoas“Vacationland”.BetweenthemonthsofAprilandOctober,thousandsoftouristsvisittheareaforboatingandfishingandtoenjoythewaterfrontcommunity.WithnearbyattractionsincludingPut-in-Bay,MiddleBassIsland,Kelley’sIsland,CedarPoint,andKalahariWaterPark,PortClintonisawell-knowndestinationfortouristsofallages.Theareanowsportslargefranchisedhotels,privatebedandbreakfastfacilities,marinas,campgrounds,condominiums,cottages,andmanyprivatelyownedseasonallyoccupiedresidences.Itisadestinationvacationspotforfamilies,singles,andretirees,boostingseasonalpopulationsbyupwardsof100,000onabeautifulsummerday.Becausetheadjacentlakewatersarerichinwalleye,PortClintonisknownasthe“WalleyeCapitaloftheWorld”.Fishermanflocktothecityforcharterfishingandboating,andPortClintonFishCompanyharvestswalleyeandyellowperchtosellcommerciallytorestaurantsandfoodsuppliers.ThousandsofvacationersalsopassthroughthecitytoenjoytheLakeErieIslandsbywayofferriesbasedinthecity.PortClintonservesasthehubformuchofthetourismtradeforthegeneralarea,amountingtoasignificanttransientpopulationforthewarmerhalfoftheyear.KeybusinessesinPortClintonincludetheJetExpress,ownedbyPut-in-BayBoatlineswhichisaferryservicethatcarriesvisitorsandworkerstotheLakeErieIslands.Manyotherretailinstitutions,restaurants,hotels,andservice-basedprofessionalofficesfillthecity’sstorefronts.PortClintonhasonehospital,a38-bedcriticalaccesshospitalwitharobustemergencydepartment.Numerousmedicalofficesandancillaryservicesareplacedwithinashortdistancefromthehospital.PortClintonCitySchoolsservethecityandsurroundingtownshipswithinPortClintonwithanelementary,middle,andhighschoolfor1,800students.Therearenoothereducationalorvocationalcentersinthecity.

Table2-8:PortClintonStatisticsStatistic Figure

LandArea 2.08sq.milesPopulation,2010USCensus 6,009White 87.9%BlackorAfricanAmerican 2.3%



Other 9.8%NumberofHouseholds 2,608PersonsperHousehold 2.25MedianIncome $46,529PersonsbelowPovertyLevel 13.5%Elevation

AlthoughthemostcurrentofficialpopulationstatisticslistPortClinton’spopulationas6,009,localofficialsbelievetheactualfigureisslightlyhigher.WhenthecityannexedasmallsectionofPortageTownshipfordevelopmentpurposes,thepopulationincreasedto6,035.Put-In-BayPut-In-BayisthesmallestvillageinthecountybypopulationandislocatedonSouthBassIsland.Put-in-Baywasnamedfortheprotectionitaffordedshipsinstorms.Theywould“putin”attheislandandwaitoutthestorm.ThevillageishometothePerryVictoryandInternationalPeaceMemorial,which,at352feethigh,isthetallestopen-airobservatoryoperatedbytheNationalParkService.ThisareawashometoCommodoreOliverHazardPerry’stroopsduringtheWarof1812justpriortotheirdefeatoftheBritishRoyalNavy.Put-in-Bayboastsoftheworld’slargestgeode,CrystalCaveandStonehengeEstate,asiteregisteredwiththeNationalRegistryofHistoricPlaces,andisapopularresortdestination.Althoughthevillagehasaverysmallyear-roundpopulation,thisnumberincreasesdramaticallyduringthesummermonthswithseasonalresidents,vacationers,andday-tripvisitors.Asmanyas100,000visitorscanoccupytheislandonabeautifulsummerday.

Table2-9:Put-In-BayStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 138White 100%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0Other 0NumberofHouseholds 70PersonsperHousehold 1.94

RockyRidgeRockyRidgeisoneofthreevillagesinOttawaCountywithapopulationoflessthan500.ThevillageislocatednorthwestofOakHarborandwassettled“upontheridge”andoutofthewayoffloodingandothernaturaldisasters.TodaythevillageisasmallbedroomcommunitylocatedonarailroadtracksthataccessestheToledoportarea.Thecommunityisresidentialandboastsofitsresilience,safety,andfriendliness.

Table2-10:RockyRidgeStatisticsStatistic Figure

Population,2010 417White 95.7%BlackorAfricanAmerican 0



Other 4.3%NumberofHouseholds 159PersonsperHousehold 2.62

2.1.3TownshipsOttawaCountyisdividedinto12townships.Eachtownshipanditspopulationaccordingto2010U.S.CensusfiguresislistedinTable2-11.

Table2-11:TownshipPopulationStatisticsTownship Population

Allen 3,780Bay 1,458Benton 2,641Carroll 2,135CatawbaIsland 3,599Clay 5,058Danbury 5,167Erie 1,221Harris 3,018Portage 1,291PutInBay 633Salem 5,371

Becausethecountyisbroadfromeasttowest,andnarrowfromnorthtosouth,thetownshipsaregroupedintothreezonesforthepurposeofprofiles.Eachzoneoftownshipsischaracterizedbycommontraits,vulnerabilities,andneeds,andtheindividualjurisdictionsineachzoneareverymuchlikeoneanother.WestTownships–Allen,Benton,Clay,andHarrisTheWestTownshipsincludeAllen,Benton,Clay,andHarris.ThesetownshipsconsistofhighlyproductivefarmlandalongthePortageandToussaintrivers.Farmsareoperatedbyfamilies,manyhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationoverthecenturies.Thelandischaracterizedbyflatterrain,wideandstraightditches,andcheckerboardroadsthatcreateaneasilynavigatedruralarea.SomewoodedareasarestillpresentinthisareathatusedtobeknowastheBlackSwamp,butmostacreagehasbeenstrippedoftreesandbrushtoutilizeproductivefarmland.Manyfencerowshavebeenremoved,makingtheflatlandvulnerabletowinddamageanderosion,withlittletobreakupstrongwindsandpreventdamagetostructures.Thetownshipsareevenlybutnotdenselypopulated,andneighborhoodsconsistoffarmsteadsandcollectionsofonetofiveacreplotsalongroadswithsinglefamilyhomes,manyofwhichwerebuiltinthemostrecentquartercentury.Therearefewmobilehomes,buttherearemanymodularhomesandpolebarnsonthesesmallplots.Thevillagesinthesetownshipsareclearlydefined,relativelycloselypopulated,andorganizedinproximitytoimportantroadways,waterways,andbusinesses.Mostnon-farmbusinessesarelocatednearthetowns,someinsideincorporationlimitsandothersnotbutproximaltothetown.



CentralTownships–Bay,Carroll,Erie,andSalemTheCentralTownshipsincludeBay,Carroll,Erie,andSalem.Thesetownshipsarecharacterizedbyconvergingwaterways,wheretheToussaintandthePortagebothreachLakeErie.BoundbyLakeErieonthenorthernside,themouthofboththePortageandtheToussaintriversinthemiddle,andtheSanduskyBayandMudCreekontheeastandsouth,thegreatestfearforthisareaisexpressedas“whenthelakemeetsthebay”.Theelevationsdrop,theriverswiden,andthesoilismostlysiltandmuck.Drainageispoor,watertablesareclosetothesurface,andditchesarewide.MudCreekreachesthebayandformsabroadmouthonthesouthendofBayTownshipasthecreekentersSanduskyBay.Theriverbedsandcoastallandishighlysusceptibletoriverinefloodingatthesametimenortheasterlywindscanpushlakewaterbackintothewaterways,overrunningthewasteland,bufferzones,andtakingovereventhedevelopedproperties.Thesewindversuswatershedforcescauseacoup-contra-coupflowofwaterthatinundatestheshorelinesandswallowsuplow-lyingproperties.Thesefourtownshipsthatarehometocampgrounds,touristattractions,parks,andotherscenicattractionsonasunnydaycanbecomethelandofmonstrousfloodingwhenthetidesturnandthewindblows.Inthemostsevereofpossibilities,thebaycouldmeetthelake,buryingthesecentraltownshipsunderwater.Ontheotherhand,thesesamefourtownshipscanbethesiteoffunandrecreation,andallthebeautyandjoythatattractthousandsandthousandsofvisitorstotheNorthCoasteverysummer.EastTownships–CatawbaIsland,Danbury,Portage,andPut-in-BayTheEastTownshipsincludeCatawbaIsland,Danbury,Portage,andPut-in-Bay.CatawbaIslandandDanbury,alongwiththevillageofofMarblehead,sitontwopeninsulas.CatawbaTownship,atonepoint,wasconsideredanislandwhenpartsofthelandwerecoveredinwater.Today,the“island”isreallyapeninsula,connectedtothemainlandbyanarrowstripofland.Bothpeninsulasstickoutofthelakewithrockysubterraneancomposition,lendingtheareatolowriskoffloodingoverhighembankmentsandrockyshorelines.CatawbaIslandandPortageTownshipsarehometomanyyearlongresidents.Singleandmultiplefamilyhomesaredenselyplacedacrossmostofthearea.DanburyTownshipneartheVillageofMarbleheadandtheunincorporatedareaofLakesideisdenselypopulatedwithsingleandmultiplefamilyhomes,butpartofthetownshipisfarmlandthatproducesfruitsandvegetablesandnurserystock.Put-in-Bayisatouristislandinthesummerandasmallquaintandisolatedvillageinthewinter.Thisentireareaishometoadoubledortripledpopulationduringthesummermonths.Campgrounds,condominiums,time-shareproperties,andhotelspepperthelandscape.Restaurants,marinas,boatdocks,parks,andothertouristattractionssharetheareawithafewfruitorchardsandnurseries.GatheringplaceslikePerry’sMonumentandLakesideChautauquaattracttouristsforspecialprogramsduringthetouristseason.Marinasarejam-packedwithsailboats,yachts,fishingboatsandspeedboatsastouriststaketothelakeforasummeroffunandrecreation.



Mostofthesoilandsubstructureisrockandsand.LaFargeQuarriesoperatesalargestoneminingoperation,andafewabandonedgypsumminesexist,mostlyinPortageTownship.Put-in-BayTownshipisthelargesttownshipinOhiointermsofwaterandlandarea.ThetownshipincludestheunincorporatedareasofSouthBassIslandaswellastheotherLakeErieIslandslocatedinOttawaCounty.TheBassIslands(SouthBassthatishometoPut-in-Bay,MiddleBass,andNorthBass)arethelargestandmostinhabited.GibralterIsland,RattlesnakeIsland,BallastIsland,GreenIsland,MouseIsland,StarveIsland,andSugarIslandarethelargerofseveralverysmallislandssurroundingtheBassIslands.Fewoftheseislandsareinhabitedandmostareprivatelyowned.TheOhioStateUniversityusesGibralterIslandasaresearchbaseonly.RattlesnakeIslandisaprivatelyownedislandresort.TheCanadianborderislessthantwomilesbeyondNorthBassIsland.2.1.4InstitutionsandSpecialFacilitiesOttawaCountyhasabundanteducationalandhealthcareresourcesavailableforresidents.Therearemultiplemilitaryorpara-militaryfacilitiesinthecounty,employingandservingcountyresidents,andfederalhomelandsecurityfacilitiesthatdothesame.TheseservicesimprovethequalityoflifeforresidentsandcontributetotheeconomyofOttawaCounty.EducationForprimaryandsecondaryeducation,OttawaCountyisservedby6publicschooldistrictsand2parochialschools.

Table2-12:OttawaCountySchoolsPublicSchoolDistricts Private/Parochial/CharterSchools

Benton-Carroll-SalemLocalSchoolDistrictDanburyLocalSchoolDistrictGenoaAreaLocalSchoolDistrictPortClintonCitySchoolDistrictPut-in-BayLocalSchoolDistrictWoodmoreLocalSchoolDistrict

ImmaculateConceptionSchoolSt.BonifaceCatholicSchool

AlthoughtherearenocollegesoruniversitiesinOttawaCounty,post-secondaryeducationisavailableatTerraStateCommunityCollegeinFremont(SanduskyCounty);BowlingGreenStateUniversityFirelandsBranchinHuron(ErieCounty);OwensStateCommunityCollegeinWoodCounty;andTheUniversityofToledoinLucasCounty.OthersmallprivatecollegesoperateinLucasCountyandnearbyMonroeCountyMichigan.VanguardVocationalSchool,EHOVEJointVocationalSchoolDistrict,andPentaCountyCareerCenterserveOttawaCountythroughthesecondaryschoolsandadulteducationdivisions.HealthcareOttawaCountyhasonehospital.MagruderHospitalisasmallin-patientandemergencyfacilitythatprovidesa24-houremergencydepartmentandawiderangeofinpatientandoutpatient



services.Forspecializedhealthcareservices,localresidentstraveltoSandusky,Cleveland,orToledo.Thecountyhasthreelicensednursinghomeswith170bedsandthreelicensedresidentialcarefacilitieswith175beds.Thesefacilitiesprovidehealthcareandhousingforelderlyindividuals,dementiapatients,andothersrecoveringfromshort-andlong-termillnessesandinjuries.TheseincludeOttawaCountyRiverviewHealthcareinOakHarbor,EdgewoodManorinPortClinton,andOtterbeinNorthShoreinMarblehead.SpecialFacilitiesTheUnitedStatesDepartmentofHomelandSecuritybuiltalargefacilityinPortageTownshipin2012.ThisisthefirsteversinglefacilitytohousetheCustomsandBorderPatrol,FieldOperationsOffices,andAirandMarineOfficesinasinglefacility.TheyservethewesternandcentralLakeEriearea,andprotectthenortherninternationalborderfromterroristandcriminalactivityCampPerry,abaseoftheOhioNationalGuard,islocatedinErieTownshiptothewestofPortClinton,housingtheRedHorseSquadronoftheOhioNationalGuard.AnnualriflematchesareheldatCampPerry,drawinghundredsofthousandsofparticipants,eventstaff,andspectatorstothearea.MilitaryreservegroupsandothersmeetatCampPerryforperiodiccampsandoperationalactivitiesonayear-widebasis.Whennotusedformilitarypurposes,theRedHorseBanquetHallisthecounty’slargestgatheringspace,hostingmanyspecialevents,receptions,andparties.TheUnitedStatesCoastGuardMarbleheadStationsitsontheshoreofLakeErieintheVillageofMarblehead.TheypatrolthecentralsectionofLakeErieandprovidesecurityandsafetyservicesforboatersandfreightersonLakeErie.TheyworkinconjunctionwiththeDetroitStationoftheCoastGuardtoexecuterescueoperationswhennecessary,andworkwithlocalresponderstoconductotheremergencyoperations.TheDavisBesseNuclearPowerStationislocatedinCarrollTownship.Thishighlysecurednuclearpowergeneratingfacilitywasbuiltnearlyfiftyyearsago,andisownedbyFirstEnergyCorp.Thefacilityemployshundredsofdirectandcontractualemployees,andbringsothercontractorsandregulatorystafftothecountyonaregularbasis.Theplantalsoprovidesfinancialsupporttolocalgovernmenttosupportthecostofhousingsuchafacilityinalocaljurisdiction.2.1.5InfrastructureOttawaCounty’sinfrastructureprovidesresidents,workers,andvisitorswithcriticalaccesstoservices.ThissectiondescribesOttawaCounty’stransportationandutilitysystems.TransportationOttawaCountyistraversedbymorethan1,500milesofroads.TheOhioTurnpikeistheonlyinterstatethatcrossesthecounty.Thereareapproximately140milesofstate-ownedhighway



inthecounty,includingSR2thatrunsfromendtoend.Townshipandcountyroadwaysmeasurealmost471miles,andcitystreetsaccountfor67milesofpavement.

Table2-13:OttawaCountyHighwaysInterstateRoutes StateRoutes

I-80/90 SR2SR19SR51SR53SR105SR163

SR269SR358SR579SR590SR795

Withinthecounty,thereare639bridgestructures.Ofthese,thecountymaintains359andtheOhioDepartmentofTransportationmaintains211.Theremainingstructuresaremaintainedbylocaljurisdictionsorotheragencies.BecauseOttawaCountyishometoseveralLakeErieIslands,thecountyhasmoreairportsthanmostcountieswithasimilarpopulation.TherearefivepublicairportsinOttawaCountyaswellasseveraladditionalprivateairstrips.Erie-OttawaRegionalAirportislocatedinPortageTownshipandprovidescargoandpassengerservicefromthemainlandtotheislandsandCanada.ServiceontheislandsisprovidedthroughMiddleBass-EastPointAirport,MiddleBassIslandAirport,NorthBassIslandAirport,andPut-in-BayAirport.FerryboatsprovidethemajorityoftransportationtoandfromtheLakeErieIslands.MillerBoatLineprovidespassengerandvehicletransportationbetweenCatawbaIslandTownshipandSouthBassIsland.TheJetExpressprovidespassenger-onlyservicebetweenSouthBassIslandanddocksinPortClinton,Sandusky,andKelley’sIsland.Kelley’sIslandBoatLinesoperatesabarge-typeferryserviceoutofMarblehead,carryingpassengers,freight,andheavycargototheisland.FerryserviceisalsoavailablebetweenSouth,Middle,andNorthBassIslands.Privateboatsalsofrequentlyprovidetransportationbetweenthemanymarinasonthemainlandandislands.UtilitiesThemajorityofhomesinOttawaCounty,morethan73%,areheatedwithnaturalgasorelectricity.Theseservicesareprovidedbyavarietyofcompanies.ThePublicUtilitiesCommissionofOhioregulatesprivatecompaniesthatprovidepublicutilityservices.Thesecompanies,alongwithmunicipalelectricutilities,areidentifiedinTable2-14.

Table2-14:OttawaCountyUtilityServiceProvidersElectricService NaturalGasService

ToledoEdisonOhioEdisonElmoreVillage*GenoaVillage*

ColumbiaGasofOhio



OakHarborCity**MunicipalElectricUtilities

Theremainingpropertiesinthecountyareheatedbyothersources,including:

• Bottled,tank,orLPgas 19.6%• Coal,cokeorwood 3.2%• Fueloil,kerosene 3.1%• Solarenergyorotherfuel 0.5%• Nofuelused 0.0%

OttawaCounty’sSanitaryEngineeringDepartmentoperatestheRegionalWaterTreatmentPlant.Theplanthasacapacityof9milliongallonsperdayandincludesthreeelevatedwatertowersand182milesoftransmissionanddistributionlines.TheplantservesPortClinton,OakHarborandthetownshipsofDanbury,CatawbaIsland,Portage,Erie,Bay,Salem,andHarris.Thecountyalsooperatestwowastewatertreatmentplants.ThePortage-CatawbaIslandWastewaterTreatmentSystemhasacapacityof1.34milliongallonsperdayandtheDanburyTownshipWastewaterTreatmentSystemhasacapacityof3.8milliongallonsperday.ThissystemservestheCityofPortClinton,theVillageofOakHarbor,andthetownshipsofDanbury,CatawbaIsland,Portage,Erie,Bay,Salem,andHarris.OtherjurisdictionsoperatingwastewatertreatmentplantsincludeElmore,Genoa,PortClinton,Put-in-Bay,andOakHarbor.ResidentsinCarrollTownshipreceivewaterfromtheCarrollTownshipWaterandSewerDistrict.Elmore,RockyRidge,ClayCenter,andtheremainingtownshipsareservedthroughindividualwellsforpotablewaterandleachsystemsforwastewaterandsewagemanagement.2.1.6TopographyOttawaCounty’slandscapeisgenerallyflatwithlittlechangeinelevationacrossthecounty.ThehighestpointisinDanburyTownshipandmeasures680’.Therockyareasattheeastendofthecountyarethehighpoint;elevationsslopedownwardalongtheshoresofLakeErieandtheSanduskyBay.TheclimateofOttawaCountyisconsistentwithmostofOhio.Thehumidcontinentalclimatezonefeaturescoldwintersandhotsummers.Theaverageannualtemperatureis50.2°F.JulyisthewarmestmonthandJanuaryisthecoldest.Thecounty’saverageannualrainfallis31.77inches.LandUseAgricultureisthepredominantlanduseinOttawaCounty.Croplandandpasturesaccountfor71.52%ofalllanduse.Thecountyalsofeaturessignificantamountsofforests,openwater,andwetlands.Thisincludes21areasorfacilitiestotaling5,543acresofstateparks,forests,naturepreserves,andwildlifeareas.



Table2-15:OttawaCountyLandUseLandUse Percentage

Cropland 60.62%Pasture 10.90%Urban(Residential,Commercial,Industrial,Transportation,UrbanGrasses) 8.12%

Forest 7.47%OpenWater 7.01%Wetlands(Wooded,Herbaceous) 5.18%Bare/Mines 0.72%

ParksandNaturalHabitatsTheLakeErieshoreislinedwithcampgrounds,parks,andnaturalhabitats.OttawaCountyishometo21parkareastotaling5,543acres.ThefederalandstateparksincludeOttawaNationalWildlifeRefuge,CraneCreekWildlifeExperimentalStation,MageeMarshStateReservation,ToussaintCreekWildlifeArea,OttawaNationalWildlifeArea,CatawbaIslandStatePark,EastHarborStatePark,DempseyStatePark,MeadowBrookMarsh,LittlePortageRiverWildlifeArea,SouthBassIslandStatePark,MiddleBassIslandStatePark,andNorthBassIslandStatePark.Perry’sVictoryandInternationalPeaceMemorialNationalMonumentislocatedonSouthBassIslandandtheonlyparkintheregionmanagedbytheNationalParkService.Individualmunicipalitiesandjurisdictionsalsomaintainlocalmanyparksandthereareseveralprivatelyownedrecreationalareasforhunting,fishing,andcamping.2.1.7WaterwaysandWatershedOttawaCountyispartofthreeprimarywatershedareas–Toussaint,Portage,andSandusky.ThePortageRiverandtheToussaintRiverflowthroughOttawaCountyonthewaytoLakeErie.TheSanduskyRiverformstheeastern-mostperimeterofthecountyasitreachestheSanduskyBay.MostofthecountydrainsthroughtheCrane,LaCarpe,Toussaint,TurtleandMuddyCreeks,andthetributariesofthosewaterways.



Map2-2:OttawaCountyWatersheds

Source:OhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesAspartoftheareaclosesttothelakeandreceivingrunoffwaterfromseveralcountiestothesouth,OttawaCountyhasagreatdealofmarshyareaalongthelakeshoreandinlandareaclosetothelake.Thisincludesmarshland,naturalhabitat,protectedhabitat,andswampland.OthermajorwaterwaysinOttawaCountyincludeMuddyCreekandMuddyCreekBay(SalemandBayTownships),WolfeCreekandSugarCreek(HarrisandSalemTownships),PackerCreek,ToussaintCreekandToussaintRiver,andTurtleCreek.2.1.8RegulationTheOttawaCountyBuildingInspectionisresponsibleforenforcingbuildingcodesforresidentialandcommercialstructuresacrossthecounty.Thedepartmentalsoadministersthecounty’sfloodplainregulations.TheChiefBuildingOfficialisthedesignatedFloodplainAdministrator.Section3.0ofthecounty’sfloodplainregulationsdesignatesaFloodplainAdministratorandspecifiesthedutiesofthatoffice,whichincludeupdatingregulationsandenforcingsuchregulationsunderSection6.0.Additionally,theFloodplainAdministratorroutinelymonitorsfloodhazardareastoenforceregulationsandprovidecommunityassistance,suchasencouragingownerstomaintainfloodinsurancepolicies.TheOttawaCountyRegionalPlanningCommissionisresponsibleforlanduseandsubdivisionacrossthecounty.Theyalsosupporttheimplementationofzoningandfloodplainregulationsthroughoutthecounty.

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OTTAWA COUNTY WATERSHED MAP

04100010 Cedar-Portage

04100010 010 – Lake Erie tributaries below Maumee River to above Toussaint River

1 – (04100010 010 020) Wolf Ditch and Berger Ditch2 – (04100010 010 040) Cedar Creek, including Reno Side Cut and Ward Canal plus Lake Erie drainage between Reno Side Cut and Crane Creek3 – (04100010 010 050) Crane Creek, including Henry Creek4 – (04100010 010 060) Turtle Creek, plus Lake Erie drainage between Crane and Toussaint creeks

14-Digit Watershed Descriptions for:

04100010 020 – Toussaint River

5 – (04100010 020 010) Toussaint Creek headwaters to near Graytown6 – (04100010 020 020) Toussaint Creek from near Graytown to Lake Erie, except Packer and Rusha creeks7 – (04100010 020 030) Packer Creek8 – (04100010 020 040) Rusha Creek


04100010 060 – Portage River below North Branch to below Sugar Creek

9 – (04100010 060 010) Portage River below North Branch to above Sugar Creek, includes Lacarpe Creek Outlet #410 – (04100010 060 020) Sugar Creek


04100010 070 – Portage River below Sugar Creek to Lake Erie and Lake Erie

tributaries below Toussaint River to Marblehead

11 – (04100010 070 010) Wolf Creek12 – (04100010 070 020) Ninemile Creek13 – (04100010 070 030) Little Portage River below Ninemile Creek to Portage River14 – (04100010 070 040) Portage River below Sugar Creek to Lake Erie including Lacarpe Creek Outlets #2 and #3, except Wolf Creek and Little Portage River15 – (04100010 070 050) Lake Erie drainage downstream of Toussaint Creek to Marblehead, except Portage River


04100011 – Sandusky

04100011 010 – Muddy Creek and North Shore Sandusky Bay tributaries

16 – (04100011 010 010) Muddy Creek, except Little Muddy Creek17 – (04100011 010 030) Drainage to north side of Sandusky Bay including Johnson’s Island


04120200 – Lake Erie Islands

04120200 010 - Lake Erie Islands

18 – (04120200 010 010) Lake Erie Islands adjacent to Ottawa and Erie counties, including North Bass, Middle Bass, South Bass and Kelleys islands, and smaller islands


04100010 Cedar-Portage, continued

14-Digit HUCWatershed Boundaries

8-Digit HUCWatershed Boundaries11-Digit HUCWatershed Boundaries

River/Stream

Intermittent Stream

Ditch/Canal

Hydrography

Intermittent Lake/Pond

Lake/Pond

Marsh/Wetland/Swamp/Bog

River or Reservoir

Municipal Boundaries

Township Boundaries

County Boundaries

Political Boundaries

− Map Created by −Ohio Depa rtment of Na tural Resources

Office of Coasta l Man agem ent105 West Shoreline DriveSandusky , Ohio 44870

Ma rch 2 0, 2009

Transportation

InterstateFully Controlled Access(Non-Interstate)

US Route

State Route

Local Road

− GIS Data Sources −Hydrography − USGS, various datesPolitical Boundaries − ODOT, 2008Transportation − ODOT, 2008Watershed Boundaries − USGS, ODNR, OEPA, NRCS, 1999

Miles

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10



NineofOttawaCounty’stwelvetownshipshavezoningregulationsinplace.Thesetownshipsemploypart-timezoninginspectorstoadministertheirlocalzoningrequirements.AcompletelistofthezoningregulationstatusforeachtownshipisprovidedinTable2-16.Eachtownshipmaintainsalanduseplan,whichisavailabletothepublicviatheRegionalPlanningCommission’swebsite.

Table2-16:TownshipZoningStatusTownship ZoningStatus

Allen ZonedBay UnzonedBenton ZonedCarroll UnzonedCatawbaIsland ZonedClay ZonedDanbury ZonedErie UnzonedHarris ZonedPortage ZonedPutInBay ZonedSalem Zoned

2.1.9EconomyandDevelopmentOttawaCounty’seconomyisbasedprimarilyinagriculture,manufacturing,andtourism.Thelakeshoreareasofthecountydominatetheserviceandtourismindustries;agricultureismoreprevalentinthecentralandwestportionsofthecounty.BusinessandIndustryOttawaCountyhasastronghistoryinindustrialproductionandinnovation.Thecountyisaworldwidecenterforpumpproductionandprovidessignificantresourcesforplasticsandsensorsmanufacturing.Withampleroadandrailtransportationreadilyavailabletoindustries,OttawaCountyisperfectsettingfortheproductionofgoodstoservethecontinentalUnitedStates.Thisstrongmanufacturingsectorformsthebasisofthecounty’seconomy.Inrecentyears,tourismhasgrowntobeasignificantpartoftheeconomicthreadofOttawaCounty.Eachyear,hundredsofthousandsofvisitorsflocktotheLakeErieBassIslandsandtheVillageofPut-in-Baytoenjoythelakefront,fishing,andthebeaches.Resortsandothertransienthousinghavecroppedupineverycorneroftheareatoprovidelodgingforovernightvisitors.Marinasanddockshaveappearedalongtheshoreline,allowingforprivateboatstotransportseasonalvisitorsbetweentheislandsandthemainland.Charterboatavailabilityforfishingexcursionsanddaytripshasincreasedrapidlytotakeadvantageofthetouristtrade.TourismhasbecomeasignificantpartoftheeconomicdevelopmentinOttawaCountyandislikelytocontinuetodevelopbothontheislandsandthemainland.LocaldevelopmentorganizationssuchastheOttawaCommunityImprovementCorporationandlocalChambersofCommercehaveworkeddiligentlytosupportthisrecoveryandfoster



innovationandnewbusinessgrowthinthecounty.Theyhaveworkedwithschoolstodevelopandsustaintheskilledlaborworkforcenecessarytostartandcontinueproactivebusinessdevelopment.Afterthelossofsignificantnumbersofindustriesinthelate1900’s,thecountyreboundedinthepastdecadebyprovidingajust-in-timeworkforcewiththecapabilitiesneededfornewandinnovativemanufacturingandshipping.In2014,OttawaCountyreported1,002activebusinessesand55businessstarts.Thenewindustrialpark,locatedonSR163eastofOakHarborandwestofPortClinton,grewindiversityandnumbers,andbecamehometostart-upandexpansionofmanufacturersasaresultofaggressiveandeffectiveeconomicdevelopmentefforts.Asmanufacturingandbusinessdevelopmentsoars,theserviceindustryfollowswithgrowthtosupportandsustaintheworkforce.Thetouristindustrythrivesduringsummermonthstoserveboaters,campersandothervisitors,andwintersarefilledwithsnowmobilersandicefishermen.Thehealthcare,education,andgovernmentsectorshaveexpandedtoservetheinfluxofmoreindustrialworkers,providingmoresupportjobsandaddingadditionaleconomicactivitytoabustlingcommunity.EmploymentinOttawaCountyisattributedtomultipleindustries.AverageemploymentforeachsectorislistedinTable2-17.

Table2-17:MajorEmploymentSectorsEmploymentSector Establishments AverageEmployment

Trade,Transportation,andUtilities 221 2,867LeisureandHospitality 233 2,708Manufacturing 54 2,181LocalGovernment N/A 1,862EducationandHealthServices 69 1,741Construction 93 461ProfessionalandBusinessServices 112 438FinancialServices 86 419OtherServices 88 384NaturalResourcesandMining 17 183FederalGovernment N/A 164StateGovernment N/A 160Information 14 73

AccordingtotheOttawaCommunityImprovementCorporation,themajorprivatesectoremployersinthecountyinclude:

Table2-18:PrivateSectorMajorEmployersCompany Employment Location

DavisBesseNuclearPowerStation 700 OakHarborMaterionBrushInc. 635 ElmoreMagruderHospital 373 PortClintonUnitedStatesGypsumCompany 225 Gypsum



FennerDunlop 155 PortClintonGuardianIndustries 145 MilburyNorthernManufacturing 126 OakHarborADfilm/APCO 80 OakHarborGraymontDolimeIncorporated 65 GenoaSignatureLabel 65 OakHarborBiroManufacturing 60 MarbleheadARESIncorporated 45 PortClintonRiversideMachining 55 GenoaC.NelsonManufacturing 32 OakHarbor

Inthepublicsector,themostsignificantemployersincludeBenton-Carroll-SalemLocalSchools,OttawaCountyGovernment,andPortClintonCitySchools.EmploymentstatisticshavesteadilyimprovedinOttawaCountysincetheeconomicdownturnof2008-2009.By2014,thecounty’sunemploymentratehaddroppedto7.4%.Still,unemploymentinOttawaCountyissignificantlyhigherthantheOhioaverageof5.2%.

Table2-19:EmploymentStatistics 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Employed 19,900 20,000 19,900 19,900 20,200Unemployed 2,800 2,500 2,100 2,100 1,600UnemploymentRate 12.3% 11.1% 9.5% 9.7% 7.4%

TravelandTourismOttawaCounty’scentralandeastregions,includingtheLakeErieIslands,PortClinton,CatawbaIsland,Marblehead,andthetownshipshaveallgrownandthrivedinlightoftourism.Thelakeprovidesforboating,skiing,andfishing.Walleyeandyellowperchattracthundredsofthousandsoffishermeneachyearfromearlyspringthroughlatefall.Icefishermencometoexperiencewintertimefishingduringthosewintersthatprovideadequatecoldtofreezethelake.Thelakeshore,fromCarrollTownshipinthewesttoDanburyTownshipintheeastandwrappingaroundtotheSanduskyBayinPortageTownship,andallinbetween,providesanareaformarinas,transientdockage,parks,naturalhabitat,wetlands,birdwatching,andbeaches.Theshorelineisdottedwithrestaurants,fuelstationsandcarryouts,boatrepairandtowingservices,andhotels,condominiumsandtimeshareresidences.Privatelyownedcottagesandsummerhomescollectinneighborhoods,creatingunincorporatedneighborhoodsallalongtheshoreline.RecreationalvehiclesofallsizesimaginableoccupyspacesalongsidetentsandcampersinawholehostofcampgroundsandRVparks.Supportservicessuchasgrocerystores,carryouts,bankbranches,cardealerships,andmedicalofficessupportthesetemporaryresidentswiththeservicesneededtohandledailyfunctions,emergencies,andspecialevents.AgricultureAgricultureisamajorcontributortoOttawaCounty’seconomy.Thecounty’s160,000acresoffarmlandaccountformorethanhalfofalllanduseinthecounty.Corn,soybeans,andwheat



arethemostprevalentcrops.Thecountyalsohasseveralhundredacresoffruitandvegetablecrops.Livestockisanotherimportantsegmentoftheagricultureindustry.Cattle,milkcows,hogs,andpoultryarethelargestindividuallivestockenterprisesinthecounty.

Table2-20:AgricultureStatisticsStatistic Figure

TotalFarmAcreage 112,677NumberofFarms 620AverageFarmSize(acres) 182TotalCashReceipts $79,052,000ReceiptsperFarm $127,503CropReceipts $77,847,000Livestock/ProductReceipts $1,205,000

2.1.10DevelopmentTrendsOttawaCountyisanaggressivepartnerineconomicdevelopment.Havingsufferedindustrialdevastationinthelate1900’sandhavinglostnumerouskeyindustries,thecountyhascombinedcriticalcomponentstoredevelopthecounty’seconomyandtorestoreathrivingcommunity.DevelopmentinOttawaCountyinthe1990’sandearly21stcenturywasaimedatindustrialrecruitmentintendedtoreplacethelargeemployersofthepreviousdecades.StandardProducts,Uniroyal,andothersecondaryautomotiveandfederaldefensesuppliershadbeenthebackboneofOttawaCountyformanyyears.Asfederalbudgetsdwindled,militaryinstallationsshrunkinsizeandcapacity,andtheautomotiveindustrycrashed,OttawaCountysuffered.Businessesclosed,residentsmovedaway,housesstoodempty,andsmallbusinessesdied.TheagriculturalbaseinOttawaCountyremainedstrong.Orchardsandvegetablescontinuedtogrowintheeasternpartofthecounty,andfamilygrainfarmsintheotherpartscontinuedtoproduce.DavisBesseNuclearPowerStationprovidedataxbaseforstrongschools,andemploymentthereremainedhighandwellpaid.Whilethissustainedpartofthecounty,itwasnotenoughtosatisfytheentirecounty’sneeds.Aplantorecoverfromtheindustrialdeclinewassorelyneeded.Theyearsfrom1995until2005werechallenging.Initialrecoveryeffortshadcenteredaroundrecruitmentofsmallbusinessandindustry.Smallmanufacturing,trades,andspecialtyserviceswerecourtedandsoughttoreplacethelargeemployersofthepast.Astheseeffortsmetwithsomesuccessbutmorefailure,theschoolssuffered,thetaxbasedeclined,andthehorizonlookedbleak.ThisglimpicturewasnotuniquetoOttawaCounty;infact,theentirenorthcoastofthestatewassufferingeconomically.Theautomotivecrashledtoarealestatecrash,andevenmoredecreaseinprosperityhitthewholearea.



Shortlyaftertheturnofthecentury,thenorthcoastofLakeEriecamealive.Aseconomieselsewhereimproved,touristsreturnedtotheshorelinecommunities.Severalwaterparksopenedtheirdoors,nonemorespectacularthanKalahariWaterParkandResortinadjacentErieCounty.Kalahari,thelargestofitskindintheentireUnitedStates,coupledwithCedarPointandtheLakeErieIslands,helpedOttawaCountybecomeathrivingandprosperousareaagain.Butwithdifferentdevelopmentactivitiescamedifferentchallenges.Thegoalsnolongerwerecreationoflargefactoriesandplants,buttheconstructionofhotels,condominiums,andvacationhomes.Thecountywasaccustomedtoatransienttouristpopulation,buthadtoconsiderthatthispopulationwasfarlargerthaninthepastbecausefarmoretouristscouldbehousedonthemainlandthaninyearspast.Trafficpatternschanged,publicserviceschanged,anddemandsonpublicofficialstoplan,enforce,andoverseedevelopmentgrew.Asindustrialdevelopmentwasconsidered,severalareaswereestablishedtoattractsmallmanufacturingandindustries.AnindustrialzonejustnorthofOakHarboronStateRoute163wascreated,andanareainsidethecityofPortClintonwasdesignated.Bothhavegrowntoincludeseveralsmallindustrialfacilities,andsitclosetotransportationandhighways.Todate,industrialgrowthismodestbuthappeningasthecountyischallengedtoprovidetheskilledtradesmennecessaryforsomeindustries.WhiletheDavisBesseNuclearPowerStationemploysmanyworkers,thethreatofclosureloomsastheplantagesandrevenuesdwindle.IndustrialgrowthhasexperiencedlimitationsinOttawaCounty.Therefore,thecountyhasreassesseditsattributes,andfocushasmovedtoincludeaggressivetourismindustrygrowth,utilizingthelakeasitscentralassettoattractmoretouriststoOttawaCounty.Thebeautifullakeshore,themagnificentwatersofthelake,andthesunshineandbeachesarecentraltowhatbringsnewpeopleandtheirbusinesstothecounty.Theverylandthatisthreatenedbynor’eastersandharshlakedrivensnowiswhyhundredsofthousandsofpeopleflocktoOttawaCountyonasummerdayin2016.Growthincludeshotels,cottages,andcondominiums.Fulltimeresidentsliveinmulti-familyhousingaswellasindividualhomes.Growthattheairporthasfacilitatedmovingpeopleandgoodsquicklybetweentheislandsandthemainland,andtheferryserviceshaveexpandedtheirofferings.Campgroundsandwaterparksthriveastheshorelinebecomesalivewithpeoplefromspringthroughfall.Duringthewintersthatbecomecoldandfrigid,theicefishermencometocatchfishontheshallowwatersofthewesternbasin.Today,in2017,thereismoreemphasisuponresidentialgrowththaninthepast.Thefocusislakefronthomes,islandhomes,condominiums,andmulti-familyhousing.Developmentgoalshavechangedtorecognizethatnewfacilitiesmayhavetobebuiltinsideareasthatflood,forallofOttawaCountysitsatthebottomofawatershed.However,growthinthislow-lyingareacanoccurinasmartandsustainablewayifnewconsiderationsaregiventofloodcontrol,smartconstruction,andmitigationinthedesignphase.



MostofOttawaCountyisinafloodplain,andwhencombinedthreatsofcoastalflooding,riverineflooding,marshlandoverflow,andseverethunderstormsandtornadoesprevail,thecountymustmakecriticaldecisionsregardingdevelopmentgoals.ThekeytosuccessinOttawaCountyisnottoprohibitdevelopmentinfloodzones;shouldthecountydothat,theywouldbeforcedtoclosethedoorsofjustabouteverythingandshutthecountydown.Instead,theirgoalsfocusonwisedevelopment,usingmaterialsandpracticestowithstandthethreatsreasonablyanticipated,tofacilitateshowcasingtheverysamecommunitycharacteristicsthatposethethreatstotheirexistence.OnlythroughthiswisedevelopmentcanalakeshorecommunitydevelopitsassetstoproduceeconomicbenefitforresidentsthroughthetourismandrecreationalactivitiesmadepossiblebyLakeErie.OttawaCountymustvieweconomicandcommunitydevelopmentthroughalensfilteredwithcaution,beingcarefultoinvestinthosebusinessesandindustriesthatsupportandfeedwhatcanbesustainedallyearlong.Asacommunitythatthrivesintourismduringthewarmmonths,fromMaythroughOctober,theretailestablishmentslikestores,hotels,andrestaurantscomealiveasvisitorstotheareawalkthroughtheirdoors.Whentheweatherturnscold,dampandblusteryinNovember,thedoorsstayclosedandthesidewalksareempty.Theonlytemporaryboonoccurswhenthedeepwintericeisthickandstableenoughforicefishing.Thatwindowgenerallyopensforlessthantwomonths,andsomeyearsdoesnotoccuratall.ThoselatefalltoearlyspringmonthscanbedevastatingforsmallbusinessandcausethemtostarveanddiewiththeebbandflowofcommerceinOttawaCounty.Therefore,thedevelopmentmustbuildfromthebeginningtoendureandsurvivetwoextremeswhenbaseduponwalk-inandimpulsecustomers.Resiliencetoanaturaldisasterprovidesyetanotherchallengetothesesometimesfragilebusinesses,andthatpotentialdemisecastsashadowonpotentialnewventures.OttawaCountyiswellawarethatitsgrowthisdependent,atleastinpart,uponcreatingresilientcommunities.Theyareawarethatbuildingcodes,landuseplanning,regulationandenforcementareallkeytothelong-termsuccessofthecounty.Thesesystemsexist,andtheofficialsandresidentsinthecountyarewillingtocomplywithstandardsthatmaketheirdevelopmentwiseandsustainable.Thecountyanditscommunitieshavejoinedforcestoaddressdevelopmentinwaysthatprotect,preserve,andsustainresistancetodamagesandresiliencethroughsustainablepractices.Themunicipalitiesandtownshipshaveworkedtogethertocreateanalmost-consistentbuildingstandardthroughoutthecounty.AllareasexcepttheVillageofOakHarborarecoveredbythelocalbuildingregulations.OttawaCountydeveloped,implementedandenforcedbothresidentialandcommercialbuildingcodesoverfortyyearsago,inapproximately1974.ThiswasdonetoprovideassurancesthateventheearliestdevelopmentofseasonalhomesandpermanentresidenceswouldbeabletowithstandthestormsthathitOttawaCounty.Acertifiedcountybuildingofficialhassinceoverseenandapprovedsiteandconstructionplans,andprovidespermittingforelectrical,plumbing,andotherconstructioncomponents.Thecountyregistersvendorswho



providebuildingservices,anddesignatesappropriatematerialsandpracticestobeusedinresidentialdevelopment.Newconstructionandrenovationsarecoveredbytheresidentialcodes,aswellassignificantrepairandreplacementofcriticalhomecomponents.CommercialdevelopmentisregulatedandenforcedbytheBuildingInspectionDepartmentinconjunctionwiththeOhioDepartmentofCommerce.ThecountyhasadoptedtheInternationalBuildingCodeandtheInternationalFireCodes.Firesafetyinspectionsarecompletedbylocalfiredepartmentscertifiedinperformingthoseinspections.Assistanceisobtainedwhennecessaryfromthestatebuildinginspectors.Whenabusinessdecidestodevelopproperty,itisrequiredthattheriskbeconsideredastheblueprintsaredrawn.Designmustincluderetentionanddetentionofstormwater;elevationtokeepstructuresaboveandclearfromflooding;appropriatefoundationandstructuralsupportsystemsdependentuponthesoilandlocationofthepropertybeingdeveloped;approvaloftheconstructionmaterialstobeusedwhentheycouldbeaffectedbytypicalthreats,suchassiding,roofing,anddrainage;andconstructionpracticessuchassitepreparation,utilityinstallation,andplumbing,heating,andairconditioninginstallation.OttawaCounty,inlightofthestandardstheyhavedeveloped,isaggressivelydevelopingbothindustriallyandresidentially.Thecountydevelopmentprofessionalsarerecruitingsmallandmediumsizedmanufacturing,services,andindustriesthroughprovidingaskilledworkforcetofilljobs,adoptingtaxincentivestoassistbusinessownersfinancially,developingthesupportservicestohelpbusinessownerswitheaseofrelocationandemployment,andbyfosteringcommunityculturalgrowthtoestablishagoodplacetoraisefamiliesandtolive.Becausesomeofthedevelopmentwilloccurinruralareasthatarecurrentlyfarmland,thecountyisworkingtoimprovedrainagethroughditchmaintenance,stormwatermanagement,andutilityhardeningbyburyinglinesandimprovingagedlinesandpipes.ThecountyisworkingtoprotectandpreserveahighqualitypotablewatersupplyinlightofalgalbloomissuesintheWesternBasinofLakeEriewhichaffectstheirwatersource.OttawaCountyhasbeenaleaderintheStateofOhioindevelopmentofalgalbloomtestingandtreatment.Communitieshaveworkeddiligentlytoimprovestormwaterandsanitarysewerlines,separatingthesesystemsunderUSEPAregulations,forthebenefitofcurrentandfutureresidents.Citiesandvillageshaveworkedtoimprovethecapacityofstormsewersasrunoffwaterreachesthelakemuchfastertodaythaninyearspast.Theaggressivetilingoffarmlandfarupthewatershedhasbroughtrunoffwaterintothelakefasterthaneverbefore,placingamuchhigherdemandonthestormsewersinvillageslikeOakHarbor,Elmore,andGenoa,aswellascitieslikePortClinton.AtthesametimethatOttawaCountyisworkingtoattractandsecureadditionalbusinessesandemploymentopportunitiesforitsresidents,thecountyisworkingtoestablishandmaintaincriticalrelationshipswiththebusinessesthatalreadyexist.Theyareworkingtofacilitateandsupportexpansion,todecreasethecostofdoingbusinessthroughefficiencyandeffectivegovernance,andtosupportthesustainmentofjobsandemployability.



ThroughdevelopmentofrecoveryresourcesintheOttawaCountyEmergencyManagementAgency,acurrentcapacitytoaddressshortandlongtermbusinessrecoveryafterfloodsandseverestormswillhelpthecountysurviveafterdisasters.Thiswholecommunityplanningforcebringstogetherthevariousentitiesneededtorepairandrestoreservicesafterwindandwaterbringcasualty.Thecommunityleadersworktogethertomaintainrelationshipsbetweenthepublicandprivatesectorstoaddressstructuraldamages,lossofbusiness,andcostofrecovery.TheyhavemadesignificanteffortstobeabletoaddressimmediateresponseneedsinconsiderationofshortandlongtermrecoveryneedstomakesurethebusinessesthatareborninOttawaCountycontinuetowithstandtherisksassociatedwiththeareaandsustainresilientpracticestoenhancesurvivalratesshouldasignificanteventstrikeinthearea.OttawaCountymightbeasmallcountyinpopulation,butthecountyleadershipthinksprogressivelyandpositively,andworkshardtoestablishasoundbasisforeconomicgrowthanddevelopment.Theyworktoanticipatetheneeds,threatsandrisksofgrowth,andtodevelopmitigationeffortsthatlessenoreliminatethelosseswhenpossible.2.2HAZARDIDENTIFICATIONThissectionofHIRAdefineseachhazardthatcanimpactOttawaCounty,identifiesthelikelyrisks,andexamineshistoricalhazardeventsthathaveoccurredinthecounty.Thenaturalandtechnologicalhazardsassessedinclude:

• Coastalerosion• Damfailure• Drought/extremeheat• Earthquake• Flood• Landsubsidence• Severethunderstorm• Tornado• Windstorm• WinterStorm

SomenaturalhazardswereexcludedfromthisplanbecausetheyposenorisktoOttawaCounty.Table2-21identifiesthesehazardsandexplainswhythehazardisnotrelevanttoOttawaCounty.

Table2-21:ExcludedHazardsExcludedHazard Justification

InvasiveSpecies NotidentifiedasaconcernMud/landslide ElevationnotconducivetothishazardTsunami GeographicallyimpossibleVolcano GeographicallyimpossibleWildfire Insufficientforestedarea



TounderstandtheriskposedbynaturalhazardsinOttawaCounty,itisimportanttodefinethecharacteristicsofeachhazard.Asacomponentindeterminingthecounty’sriskforthesehazards,thelocalhistoryofeachhazardwasreviewed.Thissectiondefineshazards,identifiessignificantoccurrencesofeachtypetoimpactOttawaCounty,andprovidesasummaryofOttawaCounty’shistorywitheachincident.AcompletelistofoccurrencesforeachhazardisprovidedinAppendixA:HazardandVulnerabilityData.HistoricalinformationwasobtainedfromtheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration’sNationalClimaticDataCenter(NCDC)andsupplementedwithinformationfromlocalofficials.2.2.1CoastalErosionErosionisdefinedasthegradualwearingawayoftheearth’ssurfacebythenaturalforceofwindandwater.AlongtheshoresofLakeErie,theconstantactionofwind,water,andiceflowsslowlybreaksdownandwearsawaytherockandsoilalongtheshore.Wavesandgravityaretheprimarycontributorstoerosion.Aswavescrashonshore,theyundercutthelandandtheforceofgravitypushessoilintothewater.Overtime,thisprocesscausestheshorelinetorecede.Approximately1.6milliontonsofmaterialsareerodedfromthelakeshoreeveryyear.CoastalerosionisasignificantissuealongtheentireLakeErieshore.AcrossallofnorthernOhio,thereare312milesofLakeEriecoastline.Approximately95%ofthisshorelineiserodingaccordingtotheOhioGeologicalSurvey.Ottawaisoneofeightcountiesalongthecoastlineandhas100milesofshorelinealongLakeErieandtheSanduskyBay.Thisareaincludesthemainlandandislandsthatfallwithinthecounty’sborder.Alloftheseareasareatriskforcoastalerosion.Table2-22providesgeneralerosionratesfromtheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesforOttawaCountyandSanduskyBay,whichtouchesthreecounties.Thelong-termratesincludetheyears1877-1973.Short-termratesrepresent1973-1990.

Table2-22:CoastalErosionRates

Location Long-termDistance(ft)

Long-termRate(ft/yr)

Short-termDistance(ft)

Short-termRate(ft/yr)

OttawaCounty 208 2.0 27 1.6SanduskyBay(Erie,Sandusky,andOttawaCounties)

241 2.8 32 1.9

WithinOttawaCounty,theriskforcoastalerosionvariesbyjurisdiction.Thelakeshorejurisdictionsinthewesternportionofthecountyhaveahighercoastalerosionriskthanthosetotheeast.ThecoastalareasinCarroll,Erie,andBayTownshipareprimarilybeachandmarshareaswithlowelevations.Structuresinthesecoastalareasareprimarilyresidential,andincludealargepercentageofsummerhomesandseasonalcottages.Someoftheseareasareprotectedbybreakwallsthatreducetheimpactofwavesastheywashonshore.TheeasternmunicipalitiesofMarblehead,PortClintonandPut-in-BayandCatawbaIsland,Danbury,Portage,andPut-in-BayTownshipsaresusceptibletocoastalerosionbut,giventheirhighelevationandrockysurfaceandsub-surface,erosionislesslikelytoimpactstructuresthaninotherareasofthecounty.Thehighcliffsandrockledgesprotectthehomes,businesses,and



infrastructurealongthelakeshorefromwindandwaterdamage.InthecityofPortClinton,thehighwayandhomesareseveralhundredfeetfromthecoastlineandnotsignificantlysusceptibletocoastalerosiondamage.Whilethecountyissignificantlylakefront,thereisnotalargeamountofbeachacrosstheshoreline.Alargepercentageofthecoastalareaiseithermarshandwetland,orrockyledge.ThemapbelowidentifiestheareasofOttawaCountyatriskforcoastalerosion.Thereareapproximately70acresoflandwithinthiscoastalerosionarea.Thisidentifiedareaincludesmarsh,wetland,beach,androckledgewithoutdifferentiationbetweenthosetypes.Whiletheseareasaresusceptibletocoastalerosion,therearenodocumentedincidentsorlossesspecificallyattributedtothishazard.Moststructuresarenotbuiltclosetothewater.

Map2-3:CoastalFloodAreas

Source:OhioDepartmentofNaturalResources2.2.2DamFailureAdamisanartificialbarrierbuiltacrossflowingwater.Thisbarrierdirectsorslowstheflowofwaterandoftencreatesalakeorreservoir.Adamisconsideredhydrologicallysignificantifithasaheightofatleast25feetfromthenaturalstreambedandastoragecapacityofatleastfifteenacre-feetoranimpoundingcapacityofatleast50acre-feetandissixfeetormoreabovethenaturalstreambed.Damsareconstructedforfloodcontrolpurposesortostorewaterforirrigation,watersupply,orenergygeneration.Theycanbecomposedofearth,rock,concrete,masonry,timber,oracombinationofmaterials.Leveesareembankmentsconstructedtopreventtheoverflowofariverandsubsequentfloodingofthesurroundingland.Theycanbebuiltusingearth,rock,orothermaterials.Leveesconstructedfromconcreteormasonrymaterialsarereferredtoasfloodwalls.



Damfailureistheuncontrolledreleaseofthewaterheldbackbythedaminalakeorreservoir.Themajorityofdamshaveasmallenoughstoragevolumethatabreachorfailurewillhavelimitedimpactonthesurroundingcommunity.Butthefailureofalargedamcancausesubstantialfloodingdownstreamandleadtosignificantlossoflifeandproperty.Therearemanycausesofdamfailure,including:

• Sub-standardconstruction• Geologicalinstability• Spillwaydesignerror• Poormaintenance• Internalerosion• Extremeinflow• Earthquake

TheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesisresponsiblefordeterminingthehazardpotentialfordamsthroughtheirDamSafetyProgram.ODNRclassifiesdamsbasedonthisscale:

Classification DescriptionClassI Probablelossoflife,serioushazardtohealth,structuraldamageto

highvalueproperty(i.e.homes,industries,majorpublicutilities)ClassII Floodwaterdamagetohomes,businesses,industrialstructures(no

lossoflifeenvisioned),damagetostateandinterstatehighways,railroads,onlyaccesstoresidentialareas

ClassIII Damagetolowvaluenon-residentialstructures,localroads,agriculturalcrops,andlivestock

ClassIV LossesrestrictedmainlytothedamTherearetwolowheaddamsinOttawaCountyaccordingtotheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources.BotharelocatedonthePortageRiverinHarrisTownship.TherearenoleveesinOttawaCounty.AccordingtorecordsfromStanfordUniversity’sNationalPerformanceofDamsProgram,therearenowrittenreportsofdamincidents,breaches,orfailuresinOttawaCounty.Thereisalessthan1%probabilityofadamincident.2.2.3DroughtandExtremeHeatAdroughtisadeficiencyofmoisturethatadverselyimpactspeople,animals,andvegetationoveranareaofsignificantsize.Becausedroughtisacreepingphenomenoncharacterizedbytheabsenceofwater,thereisnodefinedbeginningorend,noristhereastandardamountoftimerequiredforanextendeddryperiodtobeconsideredadrought.Itisconsideredadroughtwhenthedryperiodlastslongenoughtoimpacttheenvironmentandeconomyofaregion,typicallyaperiodofmonthsoryears.



Therearefourcommontypesofdrought:

Type DescriptionMeteorological Basedonthedegreeofdryness(rainfalldeficit)andlengthofdry

periodHydrological Basedonimpactofrainfalldeficitsonwatersupplysuchasstream

flow,reservoirandlakelevelsandwatertabledeclineAgricultural Basedonimpactstoagriculturebyrainfalldeficits,soilwaterdeficits,

reducedgroundwater,andreservoirlevelsneededforirrigationSocioeconomic Basedontheimpactofdroughtconditionsonsupplyanddemandof

someeconomicgoodsDroughtseverityismeasuredusingthePalmerDroughtSeverityIndex,abbreviatedPDSI.ThePDSImeasuresdrynessbasedonrecentprecipitationandtemperaturestatistics.Droughtclassificationsareidentifiedinthechartbelow:

Measurement Description-4orless ExtremeDrought-4to-3 SevereDrought-3to-2 ModerateDrought-2to-1 MildDrought-1to-0.5 IncipientDrySpell-0.5to0.5 NearNormal0.5to1 IncipientWetSpell1to2 SlightlyWet2to3 ModeratelyWet3to4 VeryWet4ormore ExtremelyWet

Aheatwaveisaperiodofabnormallyhotandunusuallyhumidweather,typicallylastingfortwoormoredays.Thiscanbeanextendedperiodoftimewithhigherthannormaltemperaturesorashorterperiodoftimewithabnormallyhightemperatures.Regardlessofthelengthoftimeorexacttemperatures,heatwavesareasafetyhazardtoanyoneexposedtothehighheat.Peopleareatriskforheatexhaustionandheatstroke,whichcanbefatalinthemostseriouscases.Whenheatwavesareaccompaniedbydroughtconditions,thepotentialforaseriousnaturaldisasterincreases.Betweeninjuries,fatalities,andcrop/propertydamage,thesedisasterscansignificantlyimpacttheeconomyofaregion.AveragetemperaturesandrainfallforPortClinton,Ohio: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov DecAvg.High 31° 33° 42° 54° 66° 76° 81° 79° 73° 60° 48° 36°Avg.Low 19° 21° 29° 40° 52° 62° 67° 66° 60° 47° 37° 26°Avg.Precip. 1.63” 1.45” 2.28” 2.98” 3.33” 3.49” 3.01” 3.43” 3.03” 2.48” 2.53” 2.13”

Droughtandextremeheatarecountywidehazardsthatcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.



HeatwavescanoccurinOttawaCountyandallofOhiobuttheyarerareandtypicallyshortinduration.Extremetemperaturesareconsideredanythingabove90degreesFahrenheit.InthehumidclimateofnorthwestOhio,thesetemperaturesareoftenaccompaniedbyhighhumidity.Temperaturesrarelyexceedthemid-90s,althoughtheregiondoesoccasionallyexperiencetemperaturesof100degreesorslightlyhigher.Thesebriefheatwavesrarelylastmorethanafewdays.Aheatwavelastinglongerthanaweekisextremelyrare.DroughtisnotcommoninOttawaCounty.Dryspellscanlastforseveralweeksbutmostmonthshavesufficientrainfalltosupportcropgrowthandhumansustenance.Droughtconditions,whentheydooccur,canhaveasignificantimpactontheagricultureindustrythroughoutthecounty.Whiledroughtisnotcommon,OttawaCountyhasbeenimpactedbyseveraldroughtsinrecentdecades.The1988-1989NorthAmericanDroughtfollowedamilderdroughtintheSoutheasternUnitedStatesandCaliforniatheyearbefore.ThisdroughtspreadfromtheMid-Atlantic,Southeast,Midwest,NorthernGreatPlains,andWesternUnitedStates.Itwaswidespread,unusuallyintense,andaccompaniedbyheatwavesthatkilledthousandsofpeopleandsubstantialnumbersoflivestocknationwide.Oneparticularreasonfortheseverityofthedroughtwasthefarmingoflandthatwasonlymarginallyarable.Anotherfactorwasthepumpingofgroundwaternearthedepletionmark.TheDroughtof1989destroyedcropsalmostnationwide.Lawnswentbrownandmanycitiesandjurisdictionsenactedwaterrestrictions.ThiscatastrophicdroughtcontinuedtoimpacttheMidwestandNorthernPlainsstatesduring1989.Thedroughtwasnotdeclaredoveruntil1990.Accordingtothecommittee,thisdroughtwasoneofthemostseveredroughtincidentsthattheycouldrecallimpactingOttawaCounty.Mostrecently,the2012NorthAmericanDroughtimpactedOttawaCountyandallofOhio.Thisincidentwasanexpansionofthe2010-2012UnitedStatesdroughtthatbeganinthespringof2012.LackofsnowfallintheUnitedStatescausedverylittlemeltwatertoabsorbintothesoil.ThedroughtincludedmostoftheUnitedStatesandallofOhio.ModeratedroughtconditionswereidentifiedinOttawaCountyandallofOhioinmid-Juneof2012.Thisdroughthasbeencomparedtosimilardroughtsinthe1930sand1950sbutdidnotlastaslong.Thedroughtcausedcatastrophiceconomicramifications.Accordingtomostmeasures,thisdroughtexceededthe1988-1989NorthAmericanDroughtinseverity,whichisthemostrecentcomparabledrought.WhilethisincidentsignificantlyimpactedmanyareasoftheMidwestandWesternUnitedStates,committeemembersdonotrecalltheeventbeingthatsevereinOttawaCounty.Accordingtothemitigationplanningteam,theincidentdidnothaveasignificantimpactonOttawaCounty.OnJuly30,2012,theGovernorofOhiosentamemorandumtotheUSDAOhioStateExecutiveDirectorrequestingprimarycountynaturaldisasterdeclarationsforeligiblecountiesduetoagriculturallossescausedbythedroughtandothernaturaldisastersduringthe2012cropyear.TheUSDAreviewedtheLossAssessmentReportsanddeterminedthatthereweresignificantenoughproductionlossesin85countiestowarrantaSecretarialdisasterdesignation.OnSeptember5,2012,OttawaCountywasincludedasoneofthedesignatedcounties.



Table2-23:Drought/ExtremeHeatHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries

AverageLoss/Incident

Drought/ExtremeHeat 5 0 5M 0 0 1M(Crop)2.2.4EarthquakeAnearthquakeoccurswhentwoblocksofearth,calledplates,movepastoneanotherbeneathearth’ssurface.Thelocationwheretheplatesmeetiscalledafault.Theshiftingoftheplatescausesmovementalongthefaultline.Thismovementcanoftenbefeltinareassurroundingtheearthquake’sepicenterandcancausedamagerangingfrominsignificanttodevastating.Damagecausedbyanearthquakecanincluderattlingfoundations,fallingdebris,and,inthemostseverecases,topplingbuildings,bridges,andculverts.TheseverityofearthquakemovementismeasuredusingtheModifiedMercalliIndexscaleasdefinedbelow:

Intensity Shaking Description/DamageI NotFelt Notfeltexceptbyaveryfewunderespeciallyfavorableconditions.II Weak Feltonlybyafewpersonsatrest,especiallyonbuildingupperfloors.III Weak Feltquitenoticeablybypersonsindoors,especiallyonupperfloorsof

buildings.Manypeopledonotrecognizeitasanearthquake.Standingmotorcarsmayrockslightly.Vibrationssimilartothepassingofatruck.Durationestimated.

IV Light Feltindoorsbymany,outdoorsbyfewduringtheday.Atnight,someawakened.Dishes,windows,doorsdisturbed;wallsmakecrackingsound.Sensationlikeheavytruckstrikingbuilding.Standingmotorcarsrockednoticeably.

V Moderate Feltbynearlyeveryone;manyawakened.Somedishes,windowsbroken.Unstableobjectsoverturned.Pendulumclocksmaystop.

VI Strong Feltbyall,manyfrightened.Someheavyfurnituremoved;afewinstancesoffallenplaster.Damageslight.

VII VeryStrong Damagenegligibleinbuildingsofgooddesignandconstruction;slighttomoderateinwell-builtordinarystructures;considerabledamageinpoorlybuiltorbadlydesignedstructures;somechimneysbroken.

VIII Severe Damageslightinspeciallydesignedstructures;considerabledamageinordinarysubstantialbuildingswithpartialcollapse.Damagegreatinpoorlybuiltstructures.Fallofchimneys,factorystacks,columns,monuments,andwalls.Heavyfurnitureoverturned.

IX Violent Damageconsiderableinspeciallydesignedstructures;well-designedframestructuresthrownoutofplumb.Damagegreatinsubstantialbuildings,withpartialcollapse.Buildingsshiftedofffoundations.

X Extreme Somewell-builtwoodenstructuresdestroyed;mostmasonryandframestructuresdestroyedwithfoundations.Railsbent.

AccordingtotheOhioSeismicNetwork,seismicriskinOhioisdifficulttoevaluatebecauseearthquakesareinfrequent.Therecurrenceintervalisgenerallyverylong,sometimesspanninghundredsorthousandsofyears.Anotherfactorinearthquakeriskisthenatureofthegeologic



materialsuponwhichastructureisbuilt.AccordingtotheOhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,“groundmotionfromseismicwavestendstobemagnifiedbyunconsolidatedsedimentssuchasthickdepositsofclayorsandandgravel.”Ohiohasexperiencedmorethan120earthquakessince1776.Whileonlyfourteenoftheseeventshavecauseddamage,thereisagreaterriskforearthquakesinOhiothanmostpeoplerealize.WestcentralandnortheastOhioaretheareasofOhiowiththehighestearthquakerisk.ThestrongestearthquakerecordedinOhiooccurredinShelbyCountyin1937andwasestimatedtohaveamagnitudeof5.5ontheRichterScale.ThisincidentcausedsomedamageinAnnaandsurroundingwestcentralOhiocommunities.ThesameareainOhiopreviouslyreportedearthquakeactivityin1875and1884.ThePomeroyarea,southeastofColumbus,experiencedanearthquakein1926,andresidentsinAnnafeltminorquakesin1930and1931,justafewyearspriortothe1937incident.Noneoftheseearthquakescausedwidespreaddamageordevastation.Theminorquakescausedshakingbuildings,crumblingmortar,andlimitedpropertydamage.Impactswereonlyfeltlocally;nostatewidedamageswerereported.TwominorearthquakeswithepicentersinOttawaCountyhavebeenrecorded.BothincidentsoccurredinLakeErienorthwestoftheBassIslands.ThesequakeswereveryminorontheRichterandModifiedMercalliscaleanddidnotcauseanydamage.Itisunlikelypeopleevenfeltmovement.Nootherincidentshavebeendocumented.Earthquakeisacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.

Table2-24:EarthquakeHistoryDate Time Latitude Longitude Richter ModifiedMercalli Source

04/12/2007 22:03 41.71 -82.93 2.5 NF ODNR04/24/2007 01:09 41.75 -82.93 2.3 NF ODNR

2.2.5FloodAfloodisdefinedasanyhighflow,overflow,orinundationofwaterovertypicallydrylandthatcausesorthreatensdamage.Floodsoccursubsequenttometeorologicaleventssuchassubstantialprecipitation,thunderstormswithheavyrainfall,rapidsnowmelt,orextremewindeventsalongcoastalwaterways.Riverinefloodingoccurswhenariverorstreamrisestoanelevationthatcausestherivertooverflowitsbanks.Therisingwaterdamagesroadways,homes,buildings,andoccupiedspacesneartheoverflowingwaterway.Lowerlevelsofawatershedaremoresusceptibletothistypeoffloodingbecausethesewaterwaysreceiveallthewaterfromtheupperlevelsandareresponsibleforcarryingamuchhighervolumeofwaterthanthetributaries.Flashfloodsaretherapidandextremeflowofhighwaterintoanormallydryarea.Aflashfloodcanalsooccurwhenthereisarapidriseinthewaterlevelofastreamorcreekandthewaterrisesaboveapre-determinedfloodlevelwithinsixhoursofaprecipitationevent.Thistypeoffloodingoccurswhenthegroundistoosaturated,impervious,orflattodrainrainfall



intowaterwaysthroughstormsewers,ditches,creeks,andstreamsatthesamerateastheprecipitationfalls.Coastalfloodingistheinundationoflandareasadjacenttoalargebodyofwater,inthiscasetheGreatLakes,causedwhenlakewaterexceedsnormallevelsandspillsontothecoastline.HighlakelevelscombinedwithstrongwindsblowingoutofthenortheastontotheshoreexacerbatefloodingalongtheLakeEriecoast.LakeshorefloodingeffectsdrivewaterfromthelakebackwardsintotheriversandditchesallthewaytoOakHarbor,MuddyCreek,andthecentraltownships.Inaddition,theactuallakeshorepropertiesareflooded,causingroadstobeinaccessible,propertiestobeinundatedwithstandingwater,andstructurestobedamagedbythefloodwaters.Thisfloodingimpactsthelakeshoreaswellasbays,rivers,andotherconnectedwaterwaysaswaterispushedupstream.Whencombinedwithheavyrainfallanddrainagefromhigherupinthewatersheds,waterflowsdownthroughOttawaCountyonitswaytoLakeErie,andwaterback-flowsintotheshorelineareasascoastalfloodingtakesplace.Theconvergenceofout-flowingwaterandin-flowingfloodwatercausesadouble-floodingaffectontheseproperties.Floodsarethemostcommonandcostlydisasterworldwide,resultinginsignificantlossoflifeandpropertyeveryyear.Floodshaveasubstantialimpactontheinfrastructureofaregion.Commoneffectsincluderoadwaybreeches,bridgewashouts,roadwaywashaway,andwater-coveredroadways.Asfloodwatermovesrapidlyandforcefully,itwashesawaythesurfaceandsub-surfaceofroads,causingholes,ruts,andotherproblemsforvehicles.Floodwaterthatisjustonefootdeep,sometimeslessdependingontheforceofthewater,isstrongenoughtocarryvehiclesawaywithoccupantsinside.Rescuersarepowerlessagainstrapid,risingwaterbecausetheyareunabletoexertenoughstrengthtocounteractthephysicsofmovingwater.Floodwatersseekthepathofleastresistanceastheytraveltolowerground,seepingintoandoccupyinganystructureinitspath.Basementsandlowerlevelsofbuildingscanbecomeinundatedwithfloodwater.Placingsandbagsalongtheexteriorofabuildingisonlyatemporarystopgap;iffloodwatersdonotrecedequickly,theforceofthewaterwillmovethroughthesandbagsandinfiltratethestructure.Asfloodwatersrecede,theaftermathandcleanupprocesscanbealong,protractedactivitythatpresentsitsownsetofhazards.Floodsoftenleavesignificantdebrisonroadways,requiringextensiveresourcesandheavyequipmenttoremoveitandallowtraffictoflow.Ifthefloodeventincludesprolongedpoweroutages,therecanbeissueswithrefrigerationandsanitation.Sewersystemsthatbecomeinundatedwithfloodwaterceasetofunctionproperly.Standingfloodwaterwateralsooftenbecomescontaminatedwithhouseholdandindustrialchemicals,fuel,andothermaterialsthathaveleakedintothewater,creatingahealthhazardforresidentsandresponders.FloodingisasignificantriskforOttawaCountybecauseofthecounty’slocationbetweenLakeErieandtheSanduskyBayandlowelevation.Thecountyhasmorethan100milesofshorelinealongLakeErieandSanduskyBayandmorethan180milesalongtheriversandstreamsthat



dischargeintoLakeErie.Thecountyisrelativelyflat,withadifferenceinelevationofonly33feetbetweenthewestandeastendsofthecounty,afallofonlyonefootpermile.ThePortageRiverandToussaintCreekfloweastwardastheydrainintoLakeErie.Alongwiththeirtributaries,theseprimarywaterwayspushasignificantamountofwateracrossthelowest-elevationareasofthecounty.Whenwaterlevelsinthelakeandbayarehigh,astheyhavebeenforseveralyears,amoderatenortheastwindcanpushsubstantialamountsofwateronshore,damagingmanyoftheresidences,businesses,androadwayslocatedalongtheshore.DatafromNCDCindicatesthecountyhasbeenimpactedby21floodeventssince1950,themajorityofthemflashfloods.Collectively,theseeventshavecaused$16,515,000inpropertydamageand$6,045,000incropdamage.Fouroftheseincidentshavecausedmorethan$2Minpropertydamageeach.Becauseofthelowelevationandsignificantshorelinemiles,floodingisacountywidehazardandcanaffectalmostalljurisdictions.Alljurisdictionsareaffectedbyriverinefloodingandflashfloodinginadditionthosethatexperiencecoastalflooding.OneoftheworstfloodstoimpactOttawaCountyoccurredonJune21-22,2006whenseverethunderstormsdumpednearly10inchesofrainacrossthecounty.Thismassiverainfallcausedmajorfloodingacrossmostofthecountyastherunoffmadeitswaytocreeks,streams,rivers,SanduskyBay,andLakeErie.Hundredsofhomesweredamagedbythefloodwateranddozensofroadswereclosedbecauseofstandingwater.Approximately20%ofthecounty’ssoybeancropwasdestroyed.FlashfloodinginPortClintonwassosignificantthatthefiredepartmenthadtorescue15motoristswhobecametrappedintheirvehiclesasthewaterrose.AlongthelakeshoreinPortClinton,manyroadshad3-4feetofstandingwater.Thehospitalalsosustainedmajordamagewhenfloodwaterinfiltratedthegroundfloorofthebuilding.Intotal,thefloodcaused$8,750,000inpropertydamageandatleast$6,000,000incropdamage.AnothermajorfloodeventoccurredonApril9,1989whenstrongwindsandhighlakelevelscombinedtocausesignificantdamagealongtheshoresofPortClintonandMarblehead.Wavesmeasuring10to14feetcrashedonshore,damagingroadsandproperties.Ittookseveraldaysforthewatertodrain;whenitdid,bulldozersandheavyequipmentwerenecessarytocleartherocksanddebriscoveringmanyroadways.Atotalof10homesweredestroyedandmorethan200damagedbythefloodwater.TheroadwaysanddikesattheOttawaNationalWildlifeRefugewereheavilydamagedandrequiredextensiverepair.Intotal,thestormcaused$2,000,000inpropertydamage.ArecentmajorfloodeventinOttawaCountyoccurredinPortClintononAugust19,2011.Aslowmovinglow-pressuresystemcombinedwithnortheastwindstoproducea5-hourperiodoftorrentialrain,droppingnearly7inchesofrainonthecity.Therainfellsofastthatstormsewerswereoverwhelmedandfloodwaterquicklyinfiltratedhomesandbuildings.TheEMAestimatedthatnearly50%ofthecityexperiencedatleastminorflooding.Thehospitalwasonceagainimpactedwithankle-deepfloodwaterthroughoutthegroundfloor.InlateJune2015,aweathersystemhungovertheareaanddroppedmorethanseveninchesofrainonthearea.Atthesametime,highwindsoutofthenortheastcreatedanor’easterstormthatdrovelakewaterbackintothevulnerableareasofOttawaCounty,includingtheCityof



PortClinton,andthetownshipsofBay,Portage,Erie,Carroll,andSalem.Roadwayswereflooded,houseswereinaccessibleandbasementsandfirstfloorsflooded,andpowerwasoutforuptoaday.Whilethisstormresultedinsignificantdamageanddisruptionoflife,itdidnotmeetdeclarationthresholdsbecausemanypropertieswereprivatelyinsuredand/orthehomesthatweredamagedwereseasonal,notprimary,homes.

Table2-25:FloodHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Flood 21 $16.515M $6.045M 0 0 $786K2.2.6LandSubsidenceLandsubsidenceistheloweringoftheland-surfaceelevationfromchangesthattakeplaceunderground.Thiscanbecausedbyhumanactionssuchaspumpingsubstanceslikewater,oil,andgasfromundergroundreservoirs,collapseofundergroundmines;dissolutionoflimestoneaquifers,alsoknownassinkholes,andhydro-compactionfromtheinitialwettingofdrysoils.Thiscancausedamagetoroads,bridges,andotherinfrastructureandchangetheelevationandslopeofstreams,canals,anddrainswhenthelandbeneathcollapsesandsinks.Nationwide,themostcommoncauseoflandsubsidenceisexploitationoftheundergroundwatersupply.InOttawaCounty,landsubsidencerarelyoccursforthisreason.Instead,thecauseismuchmorelikelytobethedissolutionoflimestoneaquifersorcollapseofundergroundmines.TheeasternandwesternportionsofOttawaCountyaremostsusceptibletothishazard.Theeasterntownshipsarelocatedattheedgeofkarstterrain.Asrainwaterseepsintothewater-solublelimestoneandgypsum,fracturesform.Thesefracturesgrowandexpandovertime,increasingtheriskofcollapse.CavesontheBassIslandsandtheMarbleheadPeninsulawereformedbythiskarstactivity.Smallersinkholesarelocatedthroughouttheeasternareaofthecounty.AbandonedminesarealsoariskinpartsofOttawaCounty.Whentheareaabovetheabandonedminescollapsesorexperienceslateralandverticalmovement,theminescancavein.TheabandonedminesarelocatedinPortageTownshipandresultfromtheremovalofgypsumbylocalindustriesanddatebacktotheearly1900s.In2015,theOhioDepartmentofTransportationcompletedrepairstoStateRoute2inPortageTownshipbecauseoftheabandonedgypsumminevoidareasbeneaththeroad.Thesemineswereabandonedandunchartedareasthatwereusedbythegypsumindustryearlierinthe20thcenturyasdrywallandothergypsumproductswereproducedfromlocalsubterraneanassets.WhenStateRoute2wasrepairedandrepaved,theinitialroadwayfailedveryquickly.Theundergroundvoidswereidentifiedandthecontractorwasrequiredtore-installthehighwayafterengineeringandcompletingstructuralsupports.Thehighwayhasbeenrepairedandhasnotfailedagaininthepastyear.



ThemapbelowidentifiestheareasinOttawaCountywithundergroundmines.Theseminesarelocatedneartheareaswithlimestoneandgypsumminingoperations.Thefollowingjurisdictionsareaffectedbythishazard:AllenTownship,BentonTownship,ClayTownship,DanburyTownship,Genoa,Marblehead,andPortageTownship.

Map2-4:UndergroundMineAreas

Source:OhioDepartmentofNaturalResources2.2.7SevereThunderstormAthunderstormisalocalstormproducedbyacumulonimbuscloudaccompaniedbythunder,lightning,and/orhail.Lightningisabrief,naturallyoccurringelectricaldischargethatoccursbetweenacloudandtheground.Hailisfrozenrainpelletsthatcandamagebuildings,vehicles,andotherstructuresastheyfall.Hailformsinthehighercloudsandaccumulatessizeasitfallsasprecipitation.Iftemperaturesclosetothegroundarewarm,thehailcanpartiallymeltorbecomefreezingrain.Mostthunderstormsincludeheavyprecipitationandwind.Thesestormscanproducehail,lightning,flashfloods,tornadoes,anddamagingwindsthatposesignificantrisktopeopleandpropertyinthearea.Athunderstormthatproducesatornado,windsof58mphorgreater,and/orhailwithadiameterofatleast1”,isconsideredaseverethunderstorm.Thesestormstypicallydevelopaspartofalargerstormfrontandareprecededandfollowedbyregularthunderstorms.OttawaCountyexperiencesmanythunderstormeventseachyear.Themajorityoftheseeventsincludeheavyprecipitation,wind,andthunder.Hailandlightningarepossible,butoccurmuchlessfrequentlythanwindandheavyprecipitation.Thunderstormsthatincludehailandlightningaremuchlessfrequentbutaregenerallymoresevere.Thunderstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Thesestormsrangefromminortosevere,althoughthemostareminorormoderate.Thunderstormsarerelativelyfrequentbut



generallyresultinlimitedpropertydamage.AccordingtoNCDCrecordsdatingbackto1950,OttawaCountyhasexperienced297thunderstormeventsand198dayswiththunderstormevents.Ofthese,102incidentsresultedinpropertydamageand3causedcropdamage.Althoughonly70oftheseincidentsincludedhailand4includedlightningasreportedhazards,propertydamagefromthoseincidentsisgenerallyhigher.Althoughmostthunderstormsarerelativelymild,thecountyisoccasionallyimpactedbyastrongandespeciallyseverethunderstorm.OnesuchincidentoccurredonJune24,1998.Thisthunderstorm,whichcausedthemostpropertyandcropdamageofanythunderstorminthecounty,includedstrongstraight-linewindsacrossmostofthecounty.Thestrongestgustwasmeasuredat92mphinErieTownship.InPortClinton,sustainedwindsof70mphcausedtreesandpowerlinestofall,blockingmultipleroads.ResidentsinOakHarborreporteddamagetomultiplemobilehomesandbarns.Propertydamagefortheincidenttotaled$3,000,000;cropssustainednearly$1,000,000indamage.AnexceptionallystrongthunderstormaffectedOttawaCountyonJuly1,2012whenacoldandwarmfrontcollidedtoformathunderstormwithstrongdownburstwindsandlargehail.CatawbaIslandandMarbleheadwerethemostaffectedareas,withwindgustsof75mph.InDanburyTownship,morethan250treesweretoppled;fallingtreesdamagedmultiplehomes.AlloftheDanburyTownshipPoliceDepartment’scruisersweredamagedbygolfballsizedhailintheincident.Severalfieldsalsosustainedsignificantdamage.Propertydamagefortheincidenttotaled$1,350,000andcropdamagewasapproximately$50,000.

Table2-26:SummaryofSevereThunderstormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


SevereThunderstorm* 297 $7.729M $1.060M 0 8 $26KHail 70 $950K $5K 0 3 $13KLightning 4 $99K 0 0 0 $25K

*Includesallincidentswiththunderstormwind,hail,and/orlightning.2.2.8TornadoAtornadoisanintense,rotatingcolumnofairthatprotrudesfromacumulonimbuscloudintheshapeofafunnelorropewhosecirculationispresentontheground.Ifthecolumnofairdoesnottouchtheground,itisreferredtoasafunnelcloud.Thiscolumnofaircirculatesaroundanareaofintenselowpressure,almostalwaysinacounterclockwisedirection.Tornadoesusuallyrangefrom300to2,000feetwideandformaheadofadvancingcoldfronts.Theytendtomovefromsouthwesttonortheastbecausetheyaremostoftendrivenbysouthwestwinds.Atornado’slifeprogressesthroughseveralstages:dust-whirl,organizing,mature,shrinking,anddecay.Onceinthematurestage,thetornadogenerallystaysincontactwiththegroundforthedurationofitslifecycle.Whenasinglestormsystemproducesmorethanonedistinctfunnelclouds,itisreferredtoasatornadofamilyoroutbreak.



TornadomagnitudeismeasuredusingtheEnhancedFujitascale,abbreviatedasEF.TherankingsrangefromEF-0toEF-5andarebasedondamagescausedbythetornado.Priorto2012,theFujitascalewasusedtomeasuretornadodamageandwasabbreviatedF-1toF-2,dependingonthelevelofimpact.EF-Scale WindSpeed TypicalDamage

0 65–85mph Lightdamage.Peelssurfaceoffsomeroofs;somedamagetoguttersorsiding;branchesbrokenofftrees;shallow-rootedtreespushedover,

1 86–110mph Moderatedamage.Roofsseverelystripped;mobilehomesoverturnedorbadlydamaged;lossofexteriordoors;windowsandotherglassbroken.

2 111–135mph Considerabledamage.Roofstornoffwell-constructedhouses;foundationsofframehomesshifted;mobilehomescompletelydestroyed;largetreessnappedoruprooted;light-objectmissilesgenerated;carsliftedoffground

3 136–165mph Severedamage.Entirestoriesofwell-constructedhousesdestroyed;severedamagetolargebuildingssuchasshoppingmalls;trainsoverturned;treesdebarked;heavycarsliftedoffthegroundandthrown;structureswithweakfoundationsblownawaysomedistance.

4 166–200mph Devastatingdamage.Wholeframeandwell-constructedhousescompletelyleveled;carsthrownandsmallmissilesgenerated.

5 >200mph Incredibledamage.Strongframehousesleveledofffoundationsandsweptaway;automobile-sizedmissilesflythroughtheairinexcessof100meters;high-risebuildingshavesignificantstructuraldamage;incrediblephenomenawilloccur

Norating Inconceivabledamage.ShouldatornadowiththemaximumwindspeedinexcessofEF-5occur,theextentandtypesofdamagemaynotbeconceived.Anumberofmissilessuchasiceboxes,waterheaters,storagetanks,automobiles,etc.Willcreateserioussecondarydamageonstructures.

Tornadoesarethemostdamagingofallatmosphericphenomena.Whiletheirfrequencyislow,theprobabilityofsignificantdamageishigh.Becausetornadoesoccuraspartofastormsystem,theydonotstrikeasindependentincidents.Emergingoutofastormfrontorsupercell,thetornado,especiallywhenaccompaniedbyheavyrain,straight-linewind,lightning,andhail,canbeextremelydamaging.Effectsofatornadoincludeuprootedtrees,damagedordestroyedbuildings,andsmashedvehicles.Twistingandflyingdebristurnsintoprojectileweapons,whichcancauseinjuriesandfatalities.Ohioranksamongthetoptwentystatesininjuries,fatalities,andpropertydamagefromtornadoevents.WhiletornadoesdonotoccurfrequentlyinOttawaCounty,theseverityandimpactwhentheydohappencanbesubstantial.Thecountyhasexperienced11tornadoeventssince1950,accordingtoNDPCrecords,andhassufferedmorethan$41,300,000intotaldamages.ThemagnitudeofthetornadoeshasrangedfromF/EF0toF/EF3.FourincidentshavebeenmeasuredasF/EF0,threeasF/EF1,threeasF/EF2andoneasF/EF3.



InOttawaCounty,tornadoesareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themapbelowidentifiesthelocationandmagnitudeoftornadoincidentsinthecountysince1950.Theaccuracyoftheinformationonthismapwasconfirmedbytwosources:NCDCandTornadoHistoryProject.com.

Map2-5:TornadoHistory

Source:TornadoHistoryProject.comThecounty’smostdamagingtornadooccurredonJune24,1998whenanF2twistertoucheddown10mileswestofPortClintonnearDavisBesseNuclearPowerPlant.The100-yardwidetornadotraveled3.5miles,injuring13people.Windsof113-157mphdestroyed63homesandseveralbarns.Another63homesweremoderatelydamagedandhundredssustainedminordamage.Trucksandtrailerswereoverturnedandmanypowerlinesdamaged.Muchoftheaffectedareawaswithoutpowerforseveraldaysafterthestorm.AshutdownandsecondstagealertwastriggeredatDavisBessebecauseofpowerissuessurroundingtheplant.Allroadsinthecountywereclosedforabriefperiodbecauseofthewidespreaddestructionandhighnumberofdownedtreesandpowerlines.Totalpropertydamagefortheincidentexceeded$20,000,000;cropdamagewasestimatedat$5,000,000,makingthistornadothemostcostlyforthecounty.OnNovember10,2002,anotherF2tornadotoucheddowninPortClintonbeforetravelingnortheasttowardsCatawbaIsland.Thistwisteroccurredinthelatefall,welloutsideofthetypicalspringandsummertornadoseason,andcaughtmanyresidentsoffguard.ThetornadocrossedthecentralsectionofPortClinton,causingmajordamageinLakeviewParkandthesurroundingresidentialcommunity.Heavydamagealsooccurredonthesouthsectionofthecitynearthehighschoolandhospital.Intotal,4peoplewereinjured,24homesand16apartmentsweredestroyed,andanother60homessustainedmajordamage.Propertydamagefortheincidentexceeded$13,5000,000.ThewesternportionofOttawaCountywasdevastatedbyatornadoatapproximately11:30pmonJune5,2010.ThisEF3stormoriginatedinFultonCountywestofToledoandtraveledwestacrossWoodCountybeforeclippingClayCenterandAllenTownshipinthenorthwestcornerofOttawaCounty.TheworstdamagewassustainedinWoodCounty,where7peoplewerekilled



and28injuredinthestorm.WhiletherewereonlytwoinjuriesandzerofatalitiesinOttawaCounty,thestormstillcausedsignificantdamage,destroying11homesandcausingmajordamageto14more.ThestormreacheditsstrongestrotationforthebrieftimeitcrossedAllenTownshipandClayCenter,andsomereportscountthetornadoinatanEF-4instrengthatthatparticularpoint.Approximately20propertiessustainedminortomoderatedamage.Elevenhomesweredestroyedeventhoughadeclarationwasneverachieved.Mostindividualhomesthatweredestroyedwereadequatelyinsuredandthereforedidnotcontributetoadeclaration.Thetwisterstayedonthegroundformorethan2¼milesandwasmeasuredat200yardswide.OttawaCounty’stotalpropertydamageforthestormwas$2,400,000.ThecombineddamagefromOttawa,Wood,andFultonCountieswasmorethan$100,000,000,andthatincludedaschoolandapolicestationinLakeTownship,WoodCounty.

Table2-27:SummaryofTornadoHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Tornado 11 $41.3M $5.025M 0 17 $3.75M2.2.9WindstormAwindstormisaweathereventwithexceptionallystrongwindsandlittleornoprecipitation.Windspeedinthistypeofeventtypicallyreachesatleast34mphbutcanbeanyspeedthatcausesdamagetotreesandbuildings.Damagecanbecausedbygusts,whichareshortburstsofhigh-speedwind,orlongerperiodsofsustainedwind.Aderechoisaspecifictypeofwindstormthatiswidespreadandfastmoving.Thesestormscanproducedamagingstraight-linewindsoverextremelylargeareas,sometimesspanninghundredsofmileslongandmorethan100mileswide.Tobedefinedasaderecho,thestormmustproducedamageoveratleast240miles,havewindgustsofatleast58mphacrossmostofthestorm’slength,andmultiplegustsof75mphorgreater.Thedestructionproducedbyaderechocanbeverysimilartothatfromatornado.However,thedamagefromthistypeofstormgenerallyoccursinonedirectionalongastraightpath.TheflattopographyofnorthwestOhiocanbevulnerabletodamagefromhighwindsunaccompaniedbyanykindofprecipitation,makingwindstormsacountywidehazard.Allareasandjurisdictionscanbeaffectedbyseverewind.Therelativelylimitedchangeinelevationandlackofextensivewoodedcoverareaarenotadequatetoreducetheeffectsofstrongwindstorms.Althoughwindsinexcessof50milesperhourcanoccurasanindependenthazard,theygenerallyoccuraspartofalargerstormsystem.Thewindoccurswhenprecipitationandunstableairmovesintothearea.Highwindsarefrequentlyaccompaniedbyheavyrain,hail,ice,snow,orthunderstorms.InOttawaCounty,wind-onlyincidentsdonotoccurfrequentlybuttheyareoftensevere.AccordingtoNCDCrecords,49windeventshavebeenrecordedsince1950,resultingin$5,692,000inpropertydamageand$550,000incropdamage.Windstormsareacountywidehazardthatcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.



OneofthemoredamagingwindstormsinOttawaCountyoccurredonFebruary12,2003.AnarcticcoldfrontmovedacrosstheLakeErieregion,causingwindgustsofmorethan60mph.TreesandpowerlinedweredownallalongtheLakeShore,fromOttawaCountyeasttoAshtabulaCounty.Inadditiontodownedtreesandpowerlines,severalsemiswereblownofftheroad.AcrosstheSanduskyBay,sixrailcarswereblownoffabridge.PropertydamageinOttawaCountytotaled$900,000.Acrosstheregion,damagestotaledmorethan$1,325,000.Thecounty’smostsignificantwindeventoccurredonSeptember14,2008.AstheremnantsofHurricaneIkemovedfromtheGulfofMexicotowardsthenortheast,damagingwindswerereportedacrossmuchofOhio.Peakwindgustsmeasurednearof60mph.Thestormcausedextensivedamagetotreesandutilitypoles.Massivepoweroutageswerealsoasignificantproblem.Someresidentswerewithoutpowerforseveraldays.Propertydamagerangedfrommissingshinglesandshutterstoblownoutwindows;manybuildingsacrossthecountysustainedminordamage.Becausethisincidenthappenedatapeaktimefortheagricultureindustryandbeforemostcropswereharvested,cropdamagewasextensive;reportsindicatecropdamageofatleast$500,000.Propertydamagetotaled$1,500,000,makingthisincidenttheworstwindstorminOttawaCounty’shistory.OttawaCountysustainedfarlessdamagethanmanyotherareasinOhio.Lossesstatewideexceeded$170,500,000forpropertyand$15,400,000foragriculture.AhurricanewasalsotherootcauseofanotherwindstormthatcausedsignificantdamageinOttawaCounty.OnOctober29,2012,thepost-tropicalremnantsofHurricaneSandypushedinlandtowardsPennsylvaniaandNorthernOhio.PeakwindgustsweremeasuredinOttawaCountyattheMarbleheadLighthouse(59mph)andSouthBassIsland(60mph).Strongwindscreated15-20footwavesinLakeErieandledtoa2-3footstormsurgealongthelakeshore.BeacherosionoccurredalongtheshoreaswellandsandhadtobeclearedfromEastPerryStreetinPortClintonbeforetheroadcouldbeopenedtotraffic.Hundredsoftreesweredownedbythestormandtherewerescatteredpoweroutagesacrossthearea.Propertydamagewasmostlyminorandtotaled$700,000forthecounty.

Table2-28:SummaryofWindstormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


Windstorm 49 $5.692M $550K 0 16 116K2.2.10WinterStormAwinterstormisaweathereventthatincludesseveralwinterweatherhazardsandcandevelopanytimebetweenlatefallandearlyspring.Thesestormscanincludeanycombinationofextremelycoldtemperatures,wind,snowfall,sleet,ice,orrainwithtemperatureslowenoughtoformice.Ablizzardisaspecifictypeofwinterstormcharacterizedbysustainedwindsorfrequentgustsof35mphorgreaterandfallingorblowingsnowthatreducesvisibilitytolessthan¼mile;bothoftheseconditionsmustbepresentforatleastthreehourstobeconsideredablizzard.



Thegreatestriskassociatedwithwinterstormsisthelossofutilities.Theelderlyandyoungchildrenaremostatrisk.Whenmedications,healthequipment,andfoodsuppliescannotreachdestinations,thesepopulationsendurethegreatesthardship.Winterstormsofthismagnitudearerelativelyrare.Mostwinterstormsareatemporaryinconveniencethatmakesresidentsuncomfortable.Itisextremelyrareforcasualtiestooccur,withtheexceptionoftrafficaccidentsthatresultfromdangerousroadconditions.SeverewinterweatherisariskacrossOhio.Allareasofthestatearesusceptibletowinterstormsthatbringheavysnow,highwinds,and/orice.Thesestormsrangefromshort,mildburstsofsnowandicetocoldsnapswithsignificantsnowfallthatlastseveraldays.InOttawaCounty,winterstormsareacountywidehazardandcanaffectallareasandjurisdictions.Themostcommonwinterstormsincludeacombinationofhazards,suchasiceandsnowfall.Theicebeginstoaccumulateastemperaturesfallbeforeturningtosnow,creatingalayeroficeunderthesnowfall.Sleetandicemakeroadwaysslickanddangerous,increasingthepotentialforvehicularaccidents.Roadcrewsarechallengedtoclearsnowandicefromroadwaysandmaintainsafetransportationroutesforresidents.Icestormscanoccurindependentofotherwinterweatherhazardsbutthisisnotcommon.Iftemperatureshovernearthefreezingpoint,precipitationcanfreezeandaccumulateontreesandpowerlines.Thiscanleadtopoweroutageswhenthebranchesandlinescanbreak.Extremecoldtemperaturescanoccurwithoutotheraccompanyingwinterweatherhazardsbutthisisrelativelyrare.Whenitdoesoccur,theincidentisgenerallyofashortdurationandisaninconveniencetoresidentsandbusinesses.Littlephysicaldamagegenerallyoccurstobuildingsorinfrastructure.OttawaCountytypicallyexperiencesmultiplewinterweathereventseveryyear.However,theseincidentsarerarelysevereenoughtocausepropertydamage.Thecountyhasexperienced31eventssince1950,perNCDCrecords.Collectively,theseincidentshaveinjuredfourpeopleandcaused$5,335,000inpropertydamage.Inthatsametimeframe,twosignificanticestormshaveoccurred.Whiletheseincidentsarelesscommon,theycausemoredamagethanatypicalwinterstorm.Extremecoldtemperatureincidentsarerare,withonlyfiverecordedsince1950.Noneoftheseincidentscausedanydocumentedpropertyloss.LikemanycountiesinnorthernOhio,theworstwinterstormtoimpactOttawaCountyistheBlizzardof‘78.OnJanuary26,1978,thestormbeganasrainbeforeeventuallychangingovertosnow.Extremelylowtemperaturesandsustainedwindsofupto70mphcombinedtocreateblizzardconditionsthatcausedsignificantdamageandhardshipacrossthecounty.Massivesnowdriftsmadeitimpossibleforregularsnowremovalequipmenttoclearroadways.TheNationalGuardhadtobringheavy-dutyequipmenttocleartheroads.Becauseofthis,schoolsandbusinesseswereclosedfornearlyaweek.Manypeoplesufferedfromfood,medication,andsupplyshortages,astheywerenotpreparedtobeintheirhomesforsolong.Utilityoutagesacrosstheareaalsocausedhardship.Inareaswherepowerwasout,familieswithfireplaces,wood-burningstoves,andalternateheatsourcesopenedtheirhomestoneighborsandwelcomedtravelerswhobecamestrandedonroadways.Whilethecountyhasexperiencedmanywinterstormeventssince1978,thisincidentcontinuestobethestormagainstwhichallothersaremeasured.



OttawaCountywasdevastatedbytwowinterstormincidentsinatwo-weekspanoftimeinDecemberof2004andJanuary2005.OnDecember22,2014,asnowstormcomparabletotheBlizzardof1978impactedallofnorthernOhio.Thefirststormbroughtheavysnowfall,strongwinds,anddriftsof2-3feet.Snowfalltotalsrangedfrom8-10inches.OnJanuary5,lessthantwoweekslater,aprolongedsystemoffreezingrainslowlymadeitswayacrossOhio.TheworstimpactfromthesecondstormimpactedcountiessouthofOttawa.Iceaccumulationinthelakeshorecountieswassignificantlylessthanthesoutherncounties,approximately¼inch.Thiswasenoughtocausescatteredpoweroutages.TheDavisBesseNuclearPowerPlantwastemporarilyshutdownduetodamagefromicebuildup.PropertydamagefromtheDecember22incidentwas$1,000,000;theJanuary5icestormcausedanadditional$600,000inpropertydamage.Mostrecently,OttawaCountywasaffectedbyawinterstormonFebruary1,2015.Thelow-pressuresystemaffectedmostofnorthernOhioanddropped11inchesofsnowacrossOttawaCounty.Windgustsofupto25mphcausedvisibilityissuesandblowinganddrifting,maketravelthroughoutthecountytreacherous.Schoolsandsomebusinesseswereclosedfortwodaysasroadswereclearedandoperationsreturnedtonormal.Propertydamagefromthestormtotaled$300,000.

Table2-29:SummaryofWinterStormHistory

HazardTotal

IncidentsTotal

PropertyLossTotal

CropLossTotalDeaths

TotalInjuries


WinterStorm* 29 $5.335M $0 0 2 $172KExtremeCold 5 0 0 0 0 0IceStorm 2 $1.1M 0 0 0 $550K

*Includesallincidentswithblizzardconditions,extremecold,icestorm,andwinterstorm.2.3VULNERABILITYANALYSISOttawaCountyisvulnerabletowater,wind,andtemperatureconsequencesandlocalpropertiesincursomeofthiskindofdamageeveryyear.Whilethestormsarenotgenerallydevastating,itisnotuncommonforshort-termdisruptionoflifeactivitiestooccur,andforpropertydamagethatmeetsindividualinsurancedeductiblesandmoretoresult.LakeEriecanbecomeaformidableforceagainstwhichmanyofthecommunitiesmustprotectthemselvesthroughproactiveriskmanagement,sustainablebuildingpractices,andwiseupkeep.2.3.1JurisdictionalVulnerabilityDuringtheprocessofupdatingthecounty’shazardmitigationplan,theHazardMitigationPlanningTeamassessedalldisastertypesforpossibility,probability,magnitude,andseverity.Whiletheydevelopedacountywideprioritizationforplanningpurposes,eachjurisdictionissomewhatuniqueinitsvulnerabilitytodisasters.Thecountywidemitigationstrategieswerebaseduponthevulnerabilitiesoftheentirecountyaswellasthoseassociatedwithunincorporatedareasliketownshipsandruralneighborhoods.



OttawaCountyOttawaCounty’smostseriousthreatsinvolvewater,wind,temperature,orsomecombinationofallthree.Thestateofthewater–bethatwarmwater,sleet,ice,orsnow–determinestheexactconditions,andallarepossibleatsometimeduringthecalendaryear.Whetheritisrunoffwater,backflowfromthelake,oricemeltplaysaroleinhowthesituationishandled.Howthewindinteractswiththewaterdictateswherethedifficultiesoccurandhowareasliketheshorelineareimpacted.Thespeed,direction,andoriginofthewindarecriticalfactorsinwhereitgoesandwhatdamageitcauses.ThecoastalareaofOttawaCounty,includingthepeninsulas,islands,andtownshipsormunicipalitiesalongthelakeshoreandbayaresusceptibletomoderatetosevereflooding.Naturallyoccurringswamplandandmarshesalongthelakeandbayaswellasalongthewideanddeepportionsoftheriversastheyreachthelake,areverysusceptibletosevereflooding.Theremainderofthecountyissusceptibletomoderateflooding.Thedifferencebetweenthetwoareasamountstocoastalriskduetowindsandproximitytothemajorbodiesofwater,suchasthelakeandthebayasthosebodiesreachpeakcapacityandfloodadjacentproperty.WhenheavyamountsofrainfallonthenorthernthirdofOhio,orwhensnowmeltoccursquicklyandpossiblyincombinationwithrainfall,thewaterflowstoLakeEriethroughSandusky,Seneca,Wood,andWyandotcounties.ItthenreachesOttawaCountyandragesthroughvillages,farms,andneighborhoodsasitdrainsintoLakeErie.Dependingontheairtemperature,thiswatercanbefromrainfall,snowmelt,orboth.Withaggressiveagriculturaldrainagetilingpracticesincountiestothesouth,OttawaCountyreceiveshighamountsofrunofffromalargeareaveryquickly.Icejamscanoccurwheretheriversbendandtwistorwheredebrishascollectedandinterruptstheflow.Insomeareas,theriversarewideandshallow,allowingfordebristocollect,sedimenttobuildup,androckstocreatebarriers.Sometimesthewateroverflowstheriverbankandfloodspropertiesasitsdrainageisdelayedanddiverted.Homesflood,roadwaysarecoveredinwater,bridgesandculvertscanbeunderminedanddamaged,andfieldsareuntouchablewhentheamountofwatertryingtodrainexceedsthecapacityofthewaterway.Retentionareasfill,grasslandsholdasmuchwaterastheycan,andpreservedwildlifeareasbecomewetandfloodedforaperiodoftime.Eachriveranditsdrainageareaisunique.TheSanduskyRiveronthefareasterncountylineisastraightandwideriverbed,flowingrapidlyfromFremontthroughtheeastern-mostcornerofOttawaCountyintothebroadexpanseofwatercalledtheSanduskyBay.ItisfedbytheMuddyCreektributaries,comingfromSanduskyCounty/Fremontonthesouth,intoBayandPortageTownshipsasitjoinstheSanduskyRiverandflowstothebay.ThePortageRiverroarsintoWoodville(inadjacentSanduskyCounty)beforetakingawindingandcircuitouspathwayintoElmore(OttawaCounty)whereitpicksupspeedandbecomesastraightandwidechannelthroughOakHarborandErieTownshipintothelakeatthepointofPortClinton.TheToussaintRiverwindsintothewesternsideofOttawaCountyand,oncethroughGenoaandClayCenter,widensanddeepens,reachingthelakeinCarrollTownshipasthesmallest,butcertainlynottheleastthreatening,ofthethreewaterways.



ThetributariesandfeederstreamsfortheseriversareplentifulandoftenratherlargeinOttawaCounty.ThewesternpartofOttawaCountyiswherePacker,TurtleandToussaintcreeksfeedtheToussaintRiverasitflowsoutintoLakeErieneartheDavisBesseNuclearPowerStationinCarrollTownship.Sugar,Wolfe,LaCarpe,andBayoucreeksflowtothePortageandthroughOakHarborastheybecomepartofthePortageRiver,whichfeedsintoLakeErie.IndianandNineMilecombinewiththeLittlePortageRiverandjointhePortageupstreaminLacarne,becominganeven-widerPortageRiver.Onthesouthernedge,MuddyCreekflowsoutintotheSanduskyBayasthebayformsthesouthernedgeofBay,Portage,andDanburytownships.Higherelevations,rocksubstructureandsandytorockyshorelinesformthecoastlineofBay,Portage,Danbury,andCatawbaIslandTownshipsastwopeninsulasjutoutintothelakewithnosignificantditchesorcreeksthatprovidedrainagetotheeasternsectionofOttawaCounty.Waterdrainsbygravityintothelake,movingrelativelyrapidlyoversandysoilsandrockysubstructure.Withlittledropinelevationfromonesideofthecountytoanother,riversthatflowintoLakeErieareusuallydrivenbywindsthatblowfromthesouth-southwesttothenortheast,aidinginthemovementofthewaterintothelake.Whenthosewindsturnandcomefromthenortheast,thewaterfromLakeEriereversesdirectionandflowsbackintoOttawaCountythroughthesameriversthatcarriedwateraway,backingupandfloodingtheentirecentralsectionofthecounty,thecoastalareas,andthetwolargestmunicipalities.ThelakeshorepropertiesinthecentralandeasterntownshipsandPortClintonareinundatedwithwaterfromthecoastline,causinghomestoflood,roadwaystobecomewatercovered,countywatertreatmentsystemstofail,anddailylifetobeinterrupteduntilthewindschangeandthewaterreversesdirectionagain.RoadsandstreetsalongthecoastlinecanbecoveredwithwaterandMotherNaturecanbeattheshorelinewithafervorthatbreaksupbeaches,bringsrocksanddebrisonshore,ruinsbermsandsurfacesofroadsandunderminestheentirecoastlineroadwaystructure.Anextendeddurationnor’easterstormcancauseOttawaCountyresidentsmonthsofworkrepairingandreplacingpropertyimprovements.Severerain,wind,andtemperaturehaveanegativeimpactonOttawaCounty’stouristindustry.Duringthewarmmonthswhentouristsincreasethecounty’spopulationincampgrounds,marinas,andseasonalhomes,theimpactofdisasterscanbedevastatingtopropertyownersandbusinessesthatdependontheshortsummerseasontoprovideincomeforanentireyear.Marinaswheretransientdocksallowday-tripperstolaunchtheirboats,seasonaldockshousevisitors,andcommercialdocksservefishingboatsandferriesmostcloseduringseverestormsandfloods.Onthebusiestsummerdays,itisnotuncommonfor50,000peopleormoretofrequenttheferriesandothertransportationservicesbetweenthemainlandandLakeErieIslands.Whenstormshit,thattransportationandtouristactivitystops,impactingthecounty’seconomicwell-being.Thisimpactsotherbusinessesaswell.Restaurants,mercantile,andserviceoutletslosebusinessanddocks,boats,anddockingequipmentcanbedamagedordestroyed.OttawaCountyincursagriculturaldamagesduringwaterandwindevents.Heavyrainandfloodingcausesgrainandcashcropstofail,eitherbynotallowingfarmerstoplantduringawet



spring,floodingoutyoungcropsduringcriticalgrowingstages,orpreventingharvestanddestroyingmatureplantslateinthegrowingseason.Fruitandvegetablecropsarerenderedyield-lessaftertemperatureextremes,havingfrozendelicatebudsinearlyspringordamagedactualfruitlateron.Hailandhard-hittingraincandestroythefruitsontreesandbushes,causingfarmerstothrowunusableproductawayaswaste.Graincropsinthecountyaredeprivedofanadequategrowingseasonwhenwetorcoldconditionsinterferewithplanting,growth,orharvesting.Yieldsareseverelyimpactedduetodrought,abnormaltemperatureextremes,orheavyrainfall.Highwindscanflattenwheat,oats,corn,andsoybeanstothepointthattheyneverrecoverandthereislittlegraintoharvest.Stormsinthewarmerhalfoftheyearcanbesevereontheislandsbutarelessdevastatingthanonthemainlandbecausetheislandshaveahigherinelevationthanthemainland.Whilestormsthatcauseboatandairtrafficonthelaketobesuspendedcanisolateislandresidentsandbusinessesfromresources,islanderstendtobepreparedforthissortofchallenge.Theyareawarethatlackoftransportationcancutofflifelinesforseveraldaysandpreparebystockpilingnecessities.Theislands’higherelevationsgivethemshorelinesthatarehighandrocky,protectingthemajorityofpropertiesfromdamagesfromhighwavesandflooding.Therearesmallsectionsofroadwaythatfloodonalltheislands;thisfloodingisgenerallyflashfloodingcausedbywatercominginfasterthanitcandrain.Dependingonthewinddirection,theairportandsomecriticalferrydocksandprivatemarinascanbeimmobilized.Break-wallsandotherfloodcontroldevicesdoprotectthesefacilitiesbykeepingwaterawayfromthoseareas.Someareasontheislandsarepronetoflashflooding,poweroutages,andwinddamage.WinterstormscanbeequallydevastatingforallofOttawaCountybut,exceptingdamagetopowerlines,mostoftheeffectisshort-terminterruptionofdailylifeandeconomiclossfrombusinessclosures.Winterstormsrarelylastmorethanafewdaysbutextremecoldcanlastforweeksonend.Littleactualpropertydamageoccurs,andwhatdoesisusuallyroofdamagefromsnowandice,downedtrees,orimpassableroads.Manytimes,duetolakeeffectwarming,winterprecipitationbeginsasrain,freezingrain,orice.Thiscreatesafrozen,icybasethatisthencoveredbyheavy,wetsnow.Windskickupandblowinganddriftingsnowclosesroads,icebuildupbreakspowerlines,androadsbecomeimpassable.Treelimbscrackundertheweightoficeandsnowanddebrisinroadways,andeventuallyinwaterways,isaproblem.PoweroutagescancausesignificantdamagehomesinacrossOttawaCounty.Thecounty’spopulationisnotdense;manypeopleliveinsmallruralcommunitiesandmusttraveltonearbycommunitiesforwork,school,andbasicnecessities;therefore,theinterruptionoftransportationcausessignificantdifficultyformanypeople,especiallythosewithfunctionaldisabilities.Extremelylowtemperaturescannecessitatewarmingcenters(orcoolingcenters,inthecaseofsummerstorms)tosupporttheneedsoftheveryyoungandtheveryold.Poweroutagescanalsoforceschoolsandbusinessestoclose.Servicestothoseinneedofhomehealthandothercriticalservicescansuffersignificantinterruption.WindstormswithoutprecipitationareamoderateriskforOttawaCounty.Theflatandopenterrainprovideslittletobreakupwind.Sustainedwindsandgustscancauseroofandshingle



damageandutilityinterruptions,whichcanimpactresidentsforseveraldaysfollowingtheincident.Attheendofagrowingseason,cropscanbedamagedandflattened,constitutingsignificantloss.Orchardsandvegetablecropscanbedestroyediftheyarenearharvest.Limitedtemporaryshelterforthetransientpopulationsonboats,campers,tents,andtrailerscancauseasignificanthousingproblemand,duringadisaster,mayresultininjuriesordeathifaffectedpopulationscannotfindshelter.Recreationalvehicles,mobilehomes,seasonalhomes,andtentscanincurheavydamagesduetohighwindevents.TornadosareamoderaterisktoOttawaCounty.MosttornadosthatdevelopinOhioareEF-0orEF-1instrengthalthoughthetornadothathitAllenTownshipin2010wascategorizedasanEF-4.Becausesignificantportionsofthecountyarenotdenselypopulated,thedamagefromafunnelcloudthattouchesdownisoftenverylowbecauseitstrikesfieldsandnaturalhabitatinsteadofhousingdevelopmentsorbusinessdistricts.Damagetocropsisusuallyminimal,althoughwhencropsaremature,damagetoyieldscanbeheavy.Treesarefrequentlyuprootedandroofsdamaged.TherearesomesubterraneanminesthathavebeenabandonedintheGypsumareaeastofPortClinton.Thisareaposesadangertoroadways,especiallyStateRoute2thatfollowsthelakeshoreacrosstheThomasEdisonBayBridgeandintoErieCounty.Sectionsofthatroadhaverecentlybeenreplacedandtheabandonedminescausedsomeoftheprojecttoberebuilt.OttawaCountyisnotespeciallyvulnerabletoseveredrought,extremeheat,ordamfailure.Whilethesehazardshavesomelimitedpotentialtooccur,theyareveryrare.Coldandhotspellscanoccur,lastingafewdayseachyearbuttheconsequencesarenotsignificant.TherearenosignificantdamsinOttawaCounty,buttherearebreakwallsandfloodwallsthatrequiremaintenanceandarecriticaltoprotectingthelakeshore.OttawaCountydoesnothavehistoryof,noristheremuchexpressedconcern,overearthquakerisk.Whilethedigitalprojectionsofearthquakedamagearehorrendousassumingaworst-casescenario,thelikelihoodofasevereearthquakeislowenoughthatnotmuchconcernisexpressed.Therearesomemulti-storybuildingsbutveryfewaregreaterthanfourstories.WestTownships–Allen,Benton,ClayandHarrisThewesternthirdofOttawaCountyconsistsofveryflatterrain,makingdrainageahugeissue.LocatedatthebottomofthePortage,Sandusky,andToussaintRiverwatersheds,theareareceivesahugeamountofrunoffwaterfromcountiesfurtherupthewatershed,andreceivesthiswaterquicklyandrapidly.Therefore,floodingisamoderatetosevererisk.Thesoilinthisareaisheavyclaythatdoesnotdrainwellalongwithsomelightersoilsthatdrainmorequickly.TheareawaspartoftheBlackSwamp;throughman-madedrainage,itcouldbefarmedandoccupiedbutdoesnotdrainwell.Waterwaysandlow-lyingfieldsflood,roadwaysbecomecoveredwithwater,andhomesthathavebeenelevatedaresurroundedbywater.Infrastructureisatriskwhensomuchfloodingoccurs,eitherasriverineorflash



flooding.Somehomesfloodrepeatedly,asdosomebusinesses,andrequireelevationorotherpreventiveactionstokeepthewateroutoflivingquarters.Somehousesarerepetitivelossstructuresandcouldbemitigated.Roadwayscouldbeelevatedandwaterretentionstructuresconstructed.Retentionanddetentionofwaterinsomeareascouldhelpkeepareasfreeofflooding.Erosionisanoutcomeofhighwindsinthisflatareawheretreeshavebeenlongcutdownandfencerowsremovedtomakemorelandtillable.Whenwindskickup,thereislittletobreakthemupand,withoutsodstripsandtreelinestoprotectthesoils,erosionisahighrisk.Severestormsplacethisentireflatandopenareaatsignificantrisk.Stormsmoveacrosstheentirearea,developingfunnelcloudsthatincreaseinstrengthandspawnsisterfunnelseveryyear.Duetolowpopulationandlackofdensity,tornadoeshavealimitedhistoryofdamagebutthereisagameofchancethatgoesonconstantlythatinvolvesexactlywhereafunneltouchesdownandwhatitdestroys.Straight-linewindsstrikethisareaeveryyearandconstituteamoderaterisk.Barnsaredamaged,roofsaretornoff,andotherstructuresaredismantled.Hail,ice,andwinterstormsarealsoamoderaterisk.Withlittletoprotectpowerlinesandmuchtodamagethem,thewholeareaismoderatelyvulnerabletopoweroutages.Mostlinesinnewresidentialdevelopmentsareburiedbutoverheadlinespowerthefarmsteadsandolderhomes.CentralTownships–Bay,Carroll,ErieandSalemThesetownshipsliveinfearofthe“lakemeetsthebay”scenario.Thesoilsareheavyandpoorlydrained,waterwaysaremanyandwinding,roadsandhomesareclosetobodiesofwaterorwaterwaysandtheriskofmanykindsoffloodingishigh.Highwindsoutofthenortheastcancombinewithheavydownpourstoforcewaterbackintotheriversystemduringanor’easterstorm,givingthisentireareaadouble-whammyofwaterandwind.Asthewatertriestodrain,itispushedbackbythewindandistrappedinthisareauntilconditionschange.Thesetownshipsarepronetoregularriverineflooding,flashfloodingandcoastalflooding.Thecentraltownshipsarealsovulnerabletohighwinds,bethoserotatingorstraight-line.Thetopographyisflatandlow,lendingitselftoroofandbuildingdamage,erosionoftopsoils,andpoweroutages.Theriskofhighwindhappensregularlyinthisarea.Onlybecausetheareaisnotdenselypopulateddoesthatriskgetratedatamoderatelevel.EastTownships–CatawbaIsland,Danbury,andPortage*Note:Put-in-BayTownshipisincludedwiththeVillageofPut-in-BayandtheLakeErieIslandsThisareaofOttawaCountyisquitedifferentfromtheothertownships.Theareahasahigherelevationwithrockyledgeshorelinesthatprotectthepropertiesfromsuchsevereflooding.ThereareveryfewwaterwaysrunningthroughthissectionofthecountyandtheareadrainsgravitationallyintoLakeErieandtheSanduskyBay.Thesetownshipsformapeninsula;the



narrowandlongconfigurationmakesanygivenplotoflandfairlyclosetothelakeorbay,andthereforefairlyeasilydrained.Creeksandditchesdon’tfloodbecausetherearen’tmany.Someroadwayshavebeenelevatedevenmore,andvulnerabilityislimitedtowindanddrainagedamagesalongtheberms,bridgesandculverts.Becausethesubstructureisrock,retentionanddetentionofrainfallisimportanttoavoidflashflooding.Coastalfloodingslamstheshorelineswithwaveaction,whichcandamageproperties.Theriskofriverineorcoastalflooddamageislowtomoderate;theriskofflashfloodingismoderate.Winddamageisalsoamoderaterisk.Theriskofpoweroutagesismoderatebecausethelinesareexposedtohighwindandsometimesbrutalwaveaction.ClayCenterThesmallvillageofClayCenterisvulnerabletofloodingfromboththeNorthBranchTurtleCreekandtheSouthBranchTurtleCreek.Likeothervillagesinthearea,rapidrunofffromupthewatershedinheavilyfarmedproductionacreageandheavyrainfallonflatterrainthatdrainsslowlycanputthevillageresidencesandbusinessesatriskofriverineandflashflooding.Withlittlestormsewercapacity,thevillageisdependentuponnaturalgradientchangestodrainwater,andthatdoesnotalwayscarrythewaterawayquicklyenough.Thevillagesitsoutintheopenwithlittleprotectionofanykind.Thatcreateswindvulnerabilityintheformofdamagestostructures,susceptibilitytotornadoandstraight-linewinddamage,andblizzardandicestormdamage.Manyhomeslackbasements,whichcreatesavulnerabilityduetolackofadequateshelteringduringhighwindevents,poweroutages,orextendedwinterstorms.Thelowpopulationofthevillageplacesrestorationofutilityservicelowontheprioritylistforutilityproviders,forcingresidentstoendureextendedoutagesduringsevereincidents.ElmoreElmore,locatedinthesouthwestcornerofOttawaCounty,isvulnerabletomoderatefloodingasSugarCreekflowsalongthesouthernboundaryofthevillage.Heavyorrapidrainfallorextensiverunoffcancausefloodinginpublicareas,golfcourses,andprivateproperties.ThePortageRiveronthenorthernbordercanfloodproperties,butthewindingnatureoftheriverasitapproachesElmoreslowsthespeedoftheflowingwaterandgenerallyhelpspreventarapidonslaughtintothevillage.Low-lyingpropertiescanbeaffected,however,whenrainfallisrapidorextensive,orifrunoffflowingthroughthePortageandSugarCreekfromfarmlandsupthewatershedinundatesthearea.Duetothewindingcharacteristicsofthesewaterways,thevillageisespeciallyvulnerabletofloodingcausedbythebuildupofdebris,sediment,andicejams.Whenfilledwithdebris,thewaterisunabletogetawayandfloodingismoresevere.FloodingismostsevereinElmorewhenrainfallhasbeenconstantoverseveraldaysorextremelyheavy,anddrainagefromseveralcountiestothesouthaccumulatesanddumpshugeamountsofrunofffromwell-tiledfarmfieldsontothearea.Sittingatthenear-bottomofthewatershed,Elmorereceivesrunofffromseveralagriculturallydominantareas.TherunoffroarsintoareastothesouthandmovesontoElmorethroughawindingsectionofwaterway.



FlashfloodingisalsoariskforElmoreduringheavy-precipitationevents.Homescanflood,includingbasementsandinextremecases,somewatermaybuilduparoundfoundationsoronfirstfloorsofslabconstructedbuildings.Bridgesandculvertsonsecondaryroadsaresusceptibletofloodinganderosionaswatersmoverapidlythroughtheareaonthewaytothelake.Soilserodeaway,andthesub-structureofbridges,culvertsandroadscanbedamagedbythewaters.Elmoreisvulnerabletowindandtornadodamage.Thevillageliesinanareaofveryflattopographyandthereislittleprotectionfromthewhippingwindsthatcomeacrossthefields.Whenhighwindscombinewithiceorheavyrain,structuresareopenlyexposedtotheenvironmentanddamageoccurs.Duetoexposure,therecanbehaildamage,lightningstrikes,andicebuild-upthatdamagesbuildingsandinfrastructure.Manyhomesandbusinessesdonothavebasementsandhighwindeventsandtornadoesplaceresidentsatriskwithnowheretogoforsafeshelter.WinterstormscanisolateElmorefromsupportsystemsandservicesandiceandwindcandamagepowerandutilitydistributionlines.Thereislittletoprotecttheroadwaysfromdriftingorblowingsnowandnothingstandsbetweentheutilitiesandthewrathofnature.Duetothevillage’ssmallpopulation,restorationofutilitiescantakesometime,exposingtheresidentstoextendedlackofservices.GenoaGenoaliesinthewesternpartofOttawaCountyamidflatterrainandrichfarmland.FloodingisoneofGenoa’smostsignificantrisks.ThewideandmightyPackerCreekrunsthroughthevillageasthousandsofacresoffarmlanddrainintoitafterstorms.Asaresult,floodingoccursinresidentialareasonthewestandsouthsideofthevillage.Becausetheflatproductionlandsareaggressivelytiledandrainfallrunsoffrapidly,therunoffwatersoftenendupinbasements,livingquarters,andcommercialbuildings.AsPackerCreekwindsthroughtown,theadjacentstreetsfrequentlyfloodwhenthecreekbankisbreachedandwhendrainageisinsufficienttocarrythewaterawayasfastasitarrives.Thelackoffadequateandfunctionalstormsewersinpartsofthevillagemakesthisfloodingworseastheonlydrainageoptionisthenaturalfalloftheland.Thecreekflowsthroughpartofthebusiestsectionofthevillage,interruptingcommerceandcuttingthevillageintwosectionsthatinaccessibletooneanotheruntilthewatersubsides.Someresidentialandcommercialpropertiesfloodrepeatedlyandownersarerequiredtorepairrepeatedlytomaintainthestructures.Genoaissusceptibletoriverineandflashfloodingaswellasstormsewerbackupinareaswheretheinfrastructureisinadequateorantiquated.Genoaisuniqueinthatthemostrecentfloodmapshaveplacedpropertiesinsidefloodplainsthatlocalresidentsdonotconsiderfloodrisks.Someofthesepropertiesaccumulatefloodwaterinyardsbutnotinsidethestructure;othershavenotfloodedatanytimethatlong-standingresidentscanremember.Localofficialssuspectthatabandonmentofsomestormsewersthatthevillagehasnotbeenfinanciallyabletoreplaceandchangesindrainagehigher



upinthewatershedarecontributingfactors.Residentsandbusinessownershavechallengedthestatusofsomepropertiesandcontinuetodisagreewithmappingoutcomes.WaterwaysinGenoaaresusceptibletodebrisandjams,impedingtheflowofwaterawayfromthevillage.Theflatterrainandwindingnatureofthecreeksallowsfortreesandotherdebristoaccumulateandsoilsallowforsedimentation.Thesebothfacilitatevulnerabilitytoflooddamagesandpoordrainageafterheavyprecipitation.AlthoughOttawaCountydoeshaveaditchmaintenanceprogram,PackerCreekisnotincluded;theToussaintCreekthatflowstothesouthofthevillageisonthecountyditchmaintenanceplanandresidentsrecognizethedifferenceinhowwellthatwaterwayflows.Genoasitsoutintheopen,susceptibletowindandtornadodamage.Therearevirtuallynohillsorvalleysintheareatoprotectstructuresfromthefullforceofthewindasitblowsacrosstheflatandopenterrain.Thesoilsarefertileandproductivefarmlandsand,aspartoftheformerBlackSwamp,consistofsoilsthaterodethroughwaterandwind.Residentialandcommercialpropertiessufferpoweroutagesandstructuraldamagesduringhighwinds,icestorms,blizzardsandotherseverestorms.Manybuildingsareconstructedoncrawlspacesorconcreteslabswithnosub-surfaceareaorbasementforstormshelter.Residentsarevulnerabletotornadoandstraight-linewindcasualty.MarbleheadThevillageofMarbleheadisexposedtothelakeonthreesidesandispronetodamagefromseverewindandheavyprecipitation.Therearenoditchesthatcarrywaterawayfromthevillage.Stormwaterdrainageisprimarilygravitationalandthroughthestormsewersystemthatneedsimprovementandmorecapacity.Marbleheadisvulnerabletonotonlyrainfall,butalsothelakewaterblowingandblastingtheshoreline,erodingawaywhatbeachthereisandeatingawayattherockledges,breakwallsandotherman-madestructuresbuilttoprotecttheshoreline.Whilemanyproperties,mostofsignificantdollarvalueduetotheirproximitytothelake,sithighonthepeninsulathatjutsoutintothelake,theyarevulnerabletodamagefromharshslappingoffiercelakewaterontheirsurfacesandroofs.ThesestructuresliterallytakeabeatingfromMotherNaturewhenstormshit.Marbleheadisatouristdestinationandmustengageinwisedevelopmentpractices,includingretentionanddetentionstructures,elevation,bufferzones,andotherwatercontrolmeasures,toprotectandpreserveitspropertiesandeconomy.Theshorelineisprotectedbynaturalhabitat,floodwalls,andotherstructurallyengineeredmeasures.Theroadwaysthatfollowtheshorelineareexceptionallyvulnerabletoerosionanddeteriorationfromtheconstantexposuretorapidlyandfiercelymovingwaterthaterodesawaythebermsandculvertseverytimeastormhits.Marbleheadresidentsandvisitorsarevulnerabletotornadoandhighwindeventsbecausetherearefarmorepeoplethanshelters.Manyhomesdonothavebasementsandthesummer



monthsbringrecreationalvehiclesandcampersaswellasmulti-occupanthotelandcabinpopulations.Poweroutagesarenotuncommonasthevillage’sutilityinfrastructureisfullyexposedtothewrathofLakeErieandthewindsthathavebecomealltoocommon.Thetransienttouristpopulationispronetoglitchesandgapsinwarningandnotificationand,becausetheyarenotalwaysfamiliarwiththesignsMotherNaturesendsbeforestorms,manydonotalwaysheedthecommon-sensewarningsperceivedbythelocalresidents.Johnson’sIslandandBayPointarepartofMarbleheadandincurthesamerisks.BothareasjutoutintotheSanduskyBayonthesouthsideofMarblehead.BayPointconsistsofmanycondominiumsandhomes;Johnson’sIslandisinhabitedbyapproximatelyfiftyfull-timeresidents.TherisksarethesameastheVillageofMarblehead,withanemphasisplaceduponwindandblowingwaterhazards.OakHarborOakHarborsitsonthebanksofthePortageRiverasitwidensanddeepensonitswaytoLakeErie.Thevillageisvulnerabletoflashandriverineflooding,aswellasstormsewerbackupduringheavyprecipitation.AsthePortageRiverwidensinsidethevillage,itscapacitygrowsbutisstillinadequateinsomelow-lyingandvulnerablelocations,suchasthewastewatertreatmentplantandseveralbusinessesinthedowntownthatlayadjacenttotheriver’sedge.Floodwallsandretentionareasalongtheriverareinadequatefortherunoffthatdumpsintothatsectionoftheriver.Insomecases,runoffwaterfromfarnorthofthevillageflowsthroughLaCarpeCreekanditsbranchestooverflowthecity’swastewatercapacity,causingfloodinginthelowlyingareasnearby.Somepropertiesfloodonarepetitivebasis,makingitachallengeforpropertyownerstoreplaceandrepairtheirhomestimeandtimeagain.Thevillagemaintainsandenforcesfloodmappingtoreducethevulnerabilitytofloodingbutisnotpartoftheotherwisecountywideresidentialbuildingcodeenforcement.Theydoparticipateinwatershedandconservancyeffortstoreducethevulnerabilitytoflooding.OakHarborisvulnerabletowindandtornadodamagebecauseit,liketherestofwesternOttawaCounty,sitsoutintheopeninessentiallyflatandeventerrain.Thepresenceofmanyolddeciduousandevergreentreesmakesthevillagesusceptibletodebrisissuesfromhighwinds,icebuildup,andtornadoes.Thelackofbasementsorothersheltersputssomeresidentsatriskinthoseeventsbecausetheyhavenosafeshelter.SoiltypesinandaroundOakHarboraresimilartotherestofOttawaCounty,andthereforefacilitatesedimentationanderosion.Thewideningriveralsoincreasesspeed,takingwithitsoilandsedimentasitreachestowardLakeErie.Riverbanks,lowlyingnaturalhabitat,andresidentialareasalongwaterwaysaresusceptibletounstablebanksanderodingsubstructures.Theriverbankinthebusinessdistrictinthevillageissusceptibletoerosioneventhoughithasbeenlinedwithstoneandriprapforstabilizationandprotection.



PortClintonAstheonlycityinOttawaCounty,PortClintonhasthehighestandmostvulnerablepopulationinthecounty.PortClintonsitsatthemouthofthePortageRiverasitflowsintoLakeErie,creatinganaturalharborastheshorelinedipsbetweenthepeninsulaofCatawbaIslandandErieTownship.ThePortageRiveriswideanddeepasitjoinsthelake,anditsbanksarepepperedwithmarinas,personalresidenceswithdocks,andshorelineattractionsandbusinesses.TheshorelinestretchesfromoneendofPortClintontotheother,characterizedbybeaches,marshes,androckyledges.Thebeachareasareexceptionallysusceptibletoerosionandsedimentationandcanbewashedawayinhighwindandwater,partiallydependentuponthelakelevelsatthetime.Thebeachescanalsoturnintomuddywastelandifhighwindsdepositlakesedimentonthem.Therockyledgescanbedestroyedaswavescrashontoshoreandriptherocksfromthesandandtakethemoutintothelake,erodingthesandbasesaway.Themarshareaswithstandsignificantwaveactionandprotecttheadjacentlandfromerosionbutthenastiestnor’eastercandestroyeventhecattailsandmarshgrassesthatprovidenaturalprotection.Notfarfromthecity’ssouthsideistheSanduskyBay.AstheSanduskyRiverrunsnorthoutofSanduskyCountyandthroughBayandPortageTownships,thecityboundaryislessthanhalfamilefromthemostdistantshoreofthebay.Insomeresidentialareas,thebayissimplyfeetfromthecity.Thisplacesoneverylargeandpowerfulbodyofwater,LakeErie,onthenorthsideofthecity,andanotherlargeandpowerfulbody,SanduskyBay,onthesouth.Shouldastorm-of-all-stormsinvolvenortheastwindsandextremelyheavyprecipitation,thebaycouldmeetthelakeandturnintotheworstnightmareOttawaCountycanimagine.CatastrophiccoastalfloodingandwaterdamagecoulddestroyjustabouteverythinginandaroundPortClinton.Thelesscatastrophicversionofthatscenario,andonethatoccursregularly,isseveralinchesofrainoverashortperiodoftimewithwindsfromthenorthornortheastthatcausescoastalflooding.Onoccasion,thefrozenlakewaterwillaccumulatenearshoreandheavyrainscanexaggeratetheeffectsofshorelineice,backingupintobridgesandculvertsandgrabbingtreesandotherdebris.Thiswaterpreventsdrainagefromtherivers,streams,andcreeksfrommovingoutintothelake,andcausesshorelinefloodinginhomes,businesses,andpublicattractions.FloodriskinPortClintonalsoincludesflashflooding.Whenrainfallsheavyandfast,thestormsewershaveadifficulttimekeepingup.Eventhoughanaggressivestreetimprovementplanhasbeenexecutedoverthepastdecade,someareasarestilllow-lyingorlocatedwherestormsewerssimplycannotmovetherainfallawayfastenough.WinddamageisnounfamiliarrisktoresidentsofPortClinton.Thecityhashistoryoftornadoactivitywithnumerousstormshittingthecityinthepast.Whetherwindisrotationalorstraightline,damagesaregenerallymoderateandinvolvedamagedroofsandsiding,downed



trees,andruinedoutbuildings.Windsometimesinvolveshailandicebecausethechangingseasonsnearthelakeshoreofteninvolverapidlychangingtemperaturescomplicatedbytheeffectofthelake.Somepropertiesthathaveexperiencedsignificantlossmorethanonce;elevationorothermitigationmeasureswouldpreventrepeatdamages.WindandiceputPortClinton’sutilityservicesatriskforoutages.Whilelinesareburiedfornewconstruction,someofthepowerlinesareabovegroundandpronetohangingiceandbreakageunderstressfromwindsoffthelake.Whilepoweroutagesarenotextremelyfrequent,theydooccur.Treelimbscoverediniceorbrokenfromhighwindsincreasetherisk,andrequirecontinualmaintenanceorremovaltoavoidexacerbatingtherisk.ManyhomesinPortClintonarebuiltoncrawlspacesorconcreteslabs.Thewatertableisshallowandlimestoneandgypsumarecloseunderthesurface.Basementstendtofloodeasilynearthelakeasthewatertablebacksup;therefore,manyhomesarebuiltwithoutbasements.Asaresult,residentsdonothaveshelterfromtornadoesandtheriskofcasualtyisgreaterthanwouldgenerallybeexpected.ThestreetsinPortClintonarelow-lyingandthehomesandalleywaysarebuiltonhigherground.Whenflashfloodingoccurs,manyofthestreetsareseverelyimpacted.Somepathsoftravelcanbedevelopedacrosstownthroughcreativeuseofthealleyswhenthisfloodingoccurs,butitisinconsistentlyfeasible,doesnotworkforlarge,commercial,oremergencyvehicles,andthealleysarenarrowandcoveredbytreebranchesandlimbs.Thelow-lyingstreetsmaketravelduringstormsdifficult.Thesestreetsalsoholdwaterthatthenoversaturatestheresidentialandcommercialyardsandseepsintobasements,creatingdamagetohomesandbusinessesthatcouldbeprevented.Put-in-Bay(includingSouth,MiddleandNorthBassIslandsandPut-in-BayTownship)TheVillageofPut-in-Bayisuniquelyvulnerabletoavarietyofrisks.Theseconsiderationschangewiththeseason–isitthetimeofyearwhentouristsovertaketheislandsorisitthemiddleofthewinterwhenonlythemost-hardyfull-timeresidentsarestillthere?Thepopulationcharacteristicsdon’tchangetheactualthreats,butitchangeshowandtowhatdegreetheislandcommunityneedstorespond.Put-in-BayandSouthBassIslandisvulnerabletoflashfloodingwhenraincomesheavy,hard,andfast.Thestreetsfloodandpropertiesbecomeisolated.However,mostofthetimethewaterdrainsquickly,eliminatingtherapidlydevelopedpondsandfloodedstreets.Inlongerlastingheavyrainfall,roadwayscanbecoveredandinaccessibleduetolakewaterinundation;theairportrunwaysandairstripscanbecoveredwithwaterandaircraftareunabletolandortakeoff.Rapidlydrainingrunoffcanerodeawaybermstoroadways,shorelines,andareaswherefruitsandvegetablesareraised.Homescansuffersomebasementfloodingbut,duetotherockysoil,mosthomesdonothavebasements.Manymodularhomesandcabinsarelesssturdythantypicalhousesandaremorevulnerabletowaterandwinddamagesimplybecausetheyarenotbuiltassolidlyasotherstructures.Somesitonconcreteslabs,aremodularunits,



orlackthestrongfoundationandsupportthatstandardconstructionwouldprovide.Somepropertiesfloodrepeatedly,causingownerstorepairandrefurbishthemonaregularbasis.ThedocksandairstripsonMiddleandNorthBassIslandsareeasilycoveredinwaterduringstorms,makingtheentireislandinaccessible.Thedockscanbecoveredinwaterandunusable,furtherisolatingthesesmallbodiesofland.MiddleBassIsland’ssewagetreatmentplantatBurgundyBayisalsosusceptibletoflooding,whichcanrenderitnonfunctionalWindcanadverselyaffecttheportsonanyoftheBassislands,dependingonwherethedockslayinrelationtothewinddirection.Watercanbeblownupontothedockingareasandmaketheminaccessibletoboats.Atthesametime,windcanblowwateracrosslandingstripsattheairportsoricecanformontherunwaysduringcoldweather,makingitimpossibleforaircrafttolandortakeoff.Sometimesthedocksandrunwayslaytoolowtoavoidbeingconsumedbywater,debris,anderosion.Theislandssufferfromisolationand,therefore,lackofaccesstogoodsandservices.Ferryservicesbringpeopleandgoodsbackandforthonadailybasisuntilthelakefreezes.Whenfrozenover,theislandershaveonlytheairlinesonwhichtodependforlifelinesandservices.Ifpre-seasonpropanesuppliesareusedfasterthananticipatedandsuppliesrunlow,theislandresidentsmustconserveandmake-dobecausetherearefewoptionstodeliveradditionalproducttotheminthefreezingwintermonths.Shelteringfromstormsisproblematicinthesummer.Alargenumber,perhapsashighas35,000oftouristscometotheislandonabeautifulsummerday.Thesevisitorsmaystayinrentedcabins,hotelrooms,campgrounds,ortents.Theymaybeday-tripperswhostaylessthan24hours,usingtheferryservicetotravelbacktothemainlandwithoutstayingovernight.Theyarriveonferryboats,individuallyownedwatercraft,airplanes,andoncommercialaircraftbutthereisnosingle“gateway”totheislands.Atnogiventimecanadefinitivecountbeestablishedforhowmanypersonsarepresentonanyoftheislands.Thatresultsinahugeneedforshelteringcapacity,warningandnotificationmethods,andprotectiveactions.WhileMiddleandNorthBassIslandshavesimilarrisks,theyhavefewervisitorsandfulltimeresidents.TherisksarethesameasSouthBassIsland.Green,Rattlesnake,Sugar,andBallastIslandssurroundingtheBassIslandsareuninhabitedorareprivateproperty.Theyhavenoairportsorferryserviceanddonotpromotethemselvestoseasonalvisitors.MouseIslandisoffthetipofCatawbaIslandTownshipandisunoccupied.RockyRidgeRockyRidge,locatednorthwestofOakHarborinBentonTownship,sitshighuponaridgeofrock,limitingitssusceptibilitytofloodingtospecificpropertiesthatarelow-lyingofftheridge.ThevillagehasnotparticipatedinNFIPprogramsbecausefloodinghaspreviouslybeeninsignificantandbrief.However,moreseverestormswithheavierprecipitationhaveaffectedseveralhomesinthelow-lyingareasandafewhaveenduredrepeatedflooddamages.Some



ofthefloodingisduetodebrisblockagesinditches,whichpreventstherapidflowofwaterawayfromthevillage.Exceptinafewinstances,residentshavebeenabletousesandbagsandhand-dugdrainstocarrywaterawayfromfoundations.Heavierrainfallsandmorefrequentstormsmakesthatdifficulttoday.Residentsofthissmallcommunityhavefrequentlyfeltthreatenedbytornadoesandseverewindstorms.Withfewwoodedareasandfencerowsexistingtoday,thevillageisoutintheopenandprimeforthewrathofanyeventinvolvinghighwind,ice,lightning,orhail.Manyhomesdonothavebasementsduetotherockysubstructureandshelterisanissue.Thevillageissusceptibletopoweroutagesduetodownedlinesandiceastheseseverethunderstormsandblizzardstakeastraighthitonthistinyvillage.Thetreesthatprovideshadeinsummermonthsprovideathreatduringhighwinds,andthevillagefrequentlyisforcedtocleanuplimbsanddownedtreesafterweatherevents.Locatedinflatterrainandhavingsandysoils,RockyRidgepropertiesarepronetoerosionfromhighwindsandfromrapidlydrainingrunoff.Locatedontopofaridge,theforceofgravityisstrong.Whenaidedbywinds,therunofftakeswithittopsoilandfertiledirtunlesscovercropsandgrassstripsinterruptthaterosiveforce.2.3.2FloodplainMappingandtheNationalFloodInsuranceProgramOttawaCountybegantheirfloodplainmodernizationwithODNRinFiscalYear2005.ThisprocessbeganwithascopingmeetingheldonAugust3,2005andculminatedwiththerevisedmapsbeingformallyadoptedbythecountyonMay18,2015.Table2-30providesNationalFloodInsuranceProgramstatusforcommunitiesinOttawaCountyfromtheFEMACommunityStatusBookReportforOhio.

Table2-30:NationalFloodInsuranceProgramParticipation

CommunityInitFHBMIdentified

InitFIRMIdentified

CurrEFFMapDate

Reg-EmerDate

DoesNotParticipate

OttawaCounty - 10/17/1978 05/18/2015 10/17/1978 ClayCenter - 06/20/1980 05/18/2015(M) 06/20/1980 Elmore 10/18/1974 04/01/1982 05/18/2015 04/01/1982 Genoa 07/18/1975 05/03/1982 05/18/2015 05/03/1982 Marblehead 04/18/1975 02/01/1984 05/18/2015 02/01/1984 OakHarbor 03/01/1974 04/01/1982 05/18/2015 04/01/1982 PortClinton 02/08/1974 09/30/1977 05/18/2015 09/30/1977 Put-in-Bay 10/26/1973 09/30/1977 05/18/2015 09/30/1977 RockyRidge X

2.3.3FederalDisasterDeclarationsOttawaCountyhasbeenincludedin10federaldisasterandemergencydeclarations.Table2-31identifiestheseincidents.



Table2-31:FederalDisasterDeclarationHistoryDR/EMNumber DeclarationDate IncidentType

DR-90-OH January23,1959 FloodDR-266-OH July15,1969 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-377-OH April27,1973 Flood,SevereStormDR-362-OH November24,1973 Flood,SevereStormDR-436-OH May31,1974 Flood,SevereStormEM-3055-OH January26,1978 WinterStormDR-951-OH August4,1992 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-1227-OH June30,1998 Flood,SevereStorm,TornadoDR-1444-OH November18,2002 Flood,SevereStorm,Tornado,WindEM-3250-OH September13,2005 HurricaneKatrinaEvacuation

OttawaCountydoesnothavealonghistoryoffederaldisasterdeclarationsandfinancialassistance.WhiletheStateofOhiohasalongercomprehensivelistofincidentsthandisplayed,OttawaCountyescapeddamagesinmanyoftheincidentsthathaveimpactedOhioovertheyears.Thecountywasmostrecentlyincludedina2005statewidedeclarationthatprovidedassistanceforHurricaneKatrinaevacuation.

2.3.4RepetitiveandSevereRepetitiveLossStructuresAcrossOttawaCounty,dozensofstructuresexperiencerepetitivefloodloss.Table2-32liststhesestructuresthathavebeenidentifiedthroughlossclaims.Inofficialrecords,thestructureslistedasCarrollTownshipareidentifiedasbeingintheVillageofOakHarbor;althoughthesepropertieshaveOakHarbormailingaddress,theyareactuallylocatedinCarrollTownship.

Table2-32:RepetitiveLossPropertiesCommunity Number Type Losses Building

PaymentsContentsPayments

TotalPayments

OttawaCounty 105 Residential 285 $1,960,369 $16,411 $1,976,781 8 Non-Residential 29 $139,562 $69,465 $209,028CarrollTownship 4 Residential 14 $75,367 $9,446 $84,814 0 Non-Residential 0 0 0 0PortClinton 5 Residential 16 $84,127 $19,206 $103,333 6 Non-Residential 16 $52,317 $57,925 $110,242Thecountyhasonlyoneknownsevererepetitivelossstructure,asidentifiedinTable2-33.

Table2-33:SevereRepetitiveLossPropertiesCommunity Number Type Losses Building

PaymentsContentsPayments

TotalPayments

PortClinton 0 Residential 0 0 0 0 1 Non-Residential 5 $21,745 $34,923 $56,668



Additionalrepetitiveand/orsevererepetitivelossstructuresmaystillexistinOttawaCounty,especiallyaschangesinfloodplainmappinghaveoccurred.Unidentifiedstructuresmaynowfallinsidethefloodplainduetochanges.Ifthesestructureshavenotbeenimpactedbyrecentfloodingevents,theymaybeunknowntolocalofficials.2.3.5LossEstimatesToestimatedisasterlosses,adamageprofilethatconsidersthepotentialimpactandlossfromeachhazardisdeveloped.ThisinformationhelpsdetermineOttawaCounty’svulnerabilitytoeachspecifichazard.DroughtDamageProfileOttawaCountycanexperienceslightdroughtandregularlyexperiencesperiodsofdecreasedprecipitationduringtheprimecrop-growingseason.Theclimateismoderateanddoesnotturnaridatanytime.Thereisnohistoryofanextendeddroughtthatcausedcasualtiesorpropertydamagemoresignificantthanlowcropyieldsforasinglegrowingseasonnoristhereanyhistoryofextensivecroplossesinexcessofasinglecropyear.Precipitationpatternscancauseaseriesofyearstohavehigherorloweryieldsduetoslightdrynessandlateplantingorharvestbecauseofexcessiverainfall.Forthepurposeoflossestimates,onlythemajorcashgraincropswereconsideredbecausethosecropsconstitutethemajorityofproductioninOttawaCountyandareconsistentlyproducedintheexpressedacreagesfromyeartoyear.Productionlivestockcangenerallybesoldinspiteofdrought;othercashcropssuchascucumbers,tomatoes,andvegetablesareheavilyinsured.Whilemostfarmerspurchasecropinsuranceforallcrops,includinggrain,datadoesnotexisttoindicatewhetherornotallcropsareinsuredinOttawaCounty.BasedonstatisticsfromtheUSDANationalAgriculturalStatisticsServiceandcurrentgrainprices,OttawaCountycouldexpectthefollowinglossamountsundertotalcroplossconditionsforthemostprevalentcropsproducedinthecounty:

Table2-34:DroughtVulnerabilityAssessmentCommodity Acres Productions(Bu) CurrentPrice ValueSoybeans 66,700 3,389,000 $9.51 $32,229,390Corn 22,800 2,660,900 $3.21 $8,541,489Wheat 5,600 405,000 $3.91 $1,583,550

EarthquakeDamageProfileEarthquakesaregeologicallypossiblybutnotcommoninOttawaCounty.Thecountyhasexperiencedseveralminorearthquakesinthatpast,althoughthesehavealloccurredawayfromlandonLakeErieandbeenveryminor.Assuch,thereislittledatatosupportcommittingextensiveresourcestoearthquake-proofingbuildingsandotherstructures.Becauseofthelowriskandhighcostofimplementingmitigationstrategiesrelatedtoearthquakerisk,thePlanningTeamdidnotidentifyanysuchactions.Astheyarrivedatthis



decision,theyreviewedprojectedlossestimatesfora5.4magnitudeearthquakewithanepicenterinPortClinton.Theseestimates,generatedbytheHAZUSlossestimationtool,helpedtheteammakeaninformeddecisionofOttawaCounty’searthquakerisk.Table2-35includesthevulnerabilityanalysismadeavailabletothecommittee;adetailedexplanationofpotentialearthquakedamageinOttawaCountyisincludedinAppendixA.

Table2-35:EarthquakeScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 2,933 $792,846,308Non-Residential 3,050 $665,927,123CriticalFacilities 71 $15,501,910Totals 6,054 $1,474,275,341

FloodDamageProfileOttawaCountyisvulnerabletominortomoderatedamagefromfloods.Themostlikelyareastosustainflooddamageareadjacentorincloseproximitytowaterways,includingsomelow-lyingroadwaysandareasthatareclosetoundersizedstormsewersthatareinadequatetohandlerunofffromheavyprecipitationevents.FloodinginOttawaCountyfloodingistypicallycausedbyoneoftwosituations:First,heavy,rapid,orextendeddurationprecipitationcausesriverineflooding,whichcollectsinlow-lyingareas.Whenthegroundissaturatedandunabletoabsorbmoreandwaterwaysareoverwhelmedandunabletocarrythewateraway,floodingoccurs.Residential,agricultural,andbusinesspropertiesarevulnerabletothistypeofflooding.ThemostheavilyimpactedpropertiesarelocatedwithinthefloodplainsandimmediatelyadjacentareasinOttawaCounty.Thesecondmostcommonfloodingsituationhappenswhenrainfallisaccompaniedbysnowmeltandheavyrunoffwhilethegroundisstillfrozenorsaturated;thisoccursprimarilyinlatewinterandearlyspring.Becausethegroundcannotabsorbthevolumeofwater,floodingoccursinresidences,parkinglots,roadways,fields,andlow-lyingareas.FlooddamageinOttawaCountycanincludedamageanddestructiontostructures,infrastructure,andcrops.Residentialstructuredamageswouldincludedamagetosingle-familyhomes,congregatelivingfacilities,andmulti-familyhousingcomplexes.Commercialandindustrialstructuredamagescouldincludebuildingsusedformanufacturing,producthandling,transportation,warehousing,retail,business,andindustrial,andthecapitalequipmentassociatedwiththoseuses.Agriculturalstructureswouldincludebarnsusedforlivestock,equipmentstorage,andcommoditystorage,aswellasthecontentsofthosebuildingsthatconstitutebusinessassetssuchasproductionanimals,equipment,andmachinery.Structuraldamagewouldincludefloodinginbasements,crawlspaces,andgroundlevellivingareas,destroyingthecontentsanddamagingwallsandfloors.Thisdamageoftencreateslargeamountsofdebris,includingfinish,structural,andfoundationmaterials,whichmustbemanaged.Afterthefloodwaterrecedes,residentsandrescuersareexposedtopotentially



hazardoussubstancesthatthefloodwaterleavesbehind,potentiallycreatingapublichealthconcern.Floodingfrequentlycausesstreets,roads,andhighwaystofloodforshortperiodsoftime.Thiscausesbusinessestocloseuntiltheroadscanbere-opened.Thisperiodofbusinessshutdowngenerallyisconfinedtothefloodplainareasandlastsforonlyadayortwooncetherainstopsbutthedisruptiontocommerce,transportation,andthedeliveryofservicesissignificant.WhenestimatingflooddamagesforOttawaCounty,thelocalmappingsystemwasfoundtobeincompatiblewiththeHAZUSprogramsuppliedbyFEMAandusedtoestimatedamagesfroma100-yearflood.Theunderlyingmappingprogramdoesnotallowfortyingparcelvaluestoaspecifieddamagezone,whetherthatzoneisestablishedbyaHAZUSparameterordoneinsomeotherfashion.Therefore,propertyvalueswerematchedwithdamagezonesmanuallybutde-selectionofisolatedareasthatwouldnotbeimpactedbya100-yearcountywidefloodwerenotcalculated.Duetothismappingissue,countywidelossestimationwasnotdoneandacommunity-wideonewasdoneusingtheVillageofGenoa,acommonvictimoffloodissues.InOttawaCounty,countywidefloodingispossiblewhennortheastwinds,heavyrainfall,and/orseasonalsnowmeltcombinetopreventrunofffromreachingLakeErie.Inthissituation,theconstantwindpushesrunoffflowingtowardsthelakebackintotheriversasfarwestasOakHarbor.Aswatercontinuestoflowfromthesouth,thesenortheastwindspreventitfromdrainingintothelake,causingsignificantflooding.Whilethisscenarioiscomplexanddependentuponthecombinationofseveralvariables,itdoesoccasionallyoccur.Inthisscenario,themostvulnerableareasincludealllandalongthePortage,Toussaint,andSanduskyRiversasindicatedintheHAZUSriverinefloodprojection.Additionally,coastalneighborhoodsalongLakeErieinCarroll,Erie,andPortageTownshipsarevulnerable.NotincludedinthevulnerabilityanalysisaresummerhomesandseasonalresidencesalongthelakeshoreinPortClinton.Thehomesareoccupiedonlyonweekendsandduringthesummer,withmostresidentsmaintainingprimaryhomesinothercommunities.Manybusinessesalongtheshorelineandinthecity’sshorelinedistrict,suchasrestaurantsandconveniencestores,areaccustomedtoutilizingsandbagstokeepwaterawayandtopreventdamagetotheirbusinesses.Otherbusinessesincludemarinas,whicharebuilttowithstandthesenor’easterstorms.

Table2-36:FloodScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysis-CountywideBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 5,028 $1,293,695,830Non-Residential 898 $231,015,160CriticalFacilities 101 $26,208,000Totals 6,027 $1,550,918,990



Inthewesternportionofthecounty,thevillageofGenoaisverysusceptibletoflooding.Forthisvulnerabilityanalysis,a100-yearfloodwassimulatedinthevillageofGenoa.Astationaryfrontstalledovertheareaforthreedaysandaffectedtheareasofthevillageinandadjacenttothe100-yearfloodplain.Twenty-twopercentofresidenceshavedamagesignificantenoughtopreventoccupantsfromlivinginthehomefortwoweeks.Eightpercentofotherstructuresarealsounusableforatleasttwoweeks.

Table2-37:FloodScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysis-WestBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 173 $4,165,842Non-Residential 7 $471,628CriticalFacilities 3 $198,314Totals 183 $4,835,784

Map2-6:100-YearFloodZone

SevereThunderstormDamageProfileThunderstormsareafrequenthazardinOttawaCounty.Thecombinationofhail,lightning,precipitation,andwindcausedbythunderstormscaninflictdamageacrossanyareaofthe

MarbleheadGenoaPort ClintonOak Harbor

Elmore

Clay Center

Rocky Ridge

Put-In-Bay

Benton

Clay

Carroll

BaySalem

Allen

Harris

Erie DanburyPortage

Catawba Island

Put-In-Bay

Rebecca E. JohnstoneGIS Coordinator

p:419-734-6761, f:[email protected]

www.ottawacountyauditor.org

Lawrence Hartlaub, Ottawa County Auditor Pictometry Orthophotos: April 2016 4" pixel resolution

Printed: Thursday, March 30, 2017, 2:10:18 PM

²0 5.5 112.75 Miles

Ottawa County Ohio



county.Whilethunderstormsarefrequent,theyaretypicallyminorandcausemoreinconveniencethanactualdamage.Ararelightningboltmaydestroyanelectricaltransformer,strikeabuilding,igniteafire,orhitatreeanddamageabuildingorvehicle,butthisisinfrequent.Moreseveredamage,includinglossoflifeandpropertyispossiblebutstatisticsindicatethefrequencyofthistypeofdamageisextremelylow.Whenthunderstormsareaccompaniedbytornadoes,damagefromthetornadoesislikelytobemoresignificantthanthatcausedbythethunderstorm.Straight-linewindscanalsooccurandaretheresultofdownburstsandmicrobursts;thesewindscanbeasdestructiveastornadoandcausedamagessimilartothatofthetornadoEFscalelistedabove.AseverethunderstormthatstrikesthecityofPortClintonwassimulatedforthisscenario.Thestormdownstrees,damagesproperties,anddropsheavyprecipitationandhail.Fivepercentofresidentialstructuresaredamaged;damagesaverage30%ofthepropertyvalueandincluderoofs,exteriorsurfaces,doorsandwindows,exteriorlandscaping,andfallentrees.

Table2-38:ThunderstormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 142 $4,112,740Non-Residential 14 $1,166,142CriticalFacilities 2 $1,943,826Totals 158 $7,222,708

TornadoDamageProfileOttawaCountyisuniversallyvulnerabletotornadodamage.Becauseoftheflatopenterrain,thereislittlechangeinelevationorlandscapethatwouldcauseatornadotoslowdownorbreakapart.Althoughtornadowarningsareissuedseveraltimeseachyear,tornadoesdonotoccurfrequentlyinthecounty.TornadoesaremostcommoninthespringalthoughthecountyhasexperiencedseveretornadoesaslateintheyearasNovember.Whenthecountydoesexperienceatornadoevent,themagnitudeistypicallyanEF1incidentwithmoderatedamagelimitedtoarelativelysmallgeographicalarea.ItisunusualforatornadotohaveamagnitudeofEF2orgreater.InOttawaCounty,thereareseveralthousandmobilehomes,campers,andboatsthatserveasfull-orpart-timeresidences.Thesestructuresaremorevulnerabletowinddamagebecausetheyarelesssecuredtothegroundthanbuildingswithfoundations,havenobasementorsub-terrainlevel,andarelighterweightandmadeoflesswindresistantmaterialthantraditionallyconstructedhomes.Mobilehomesarescatteredthroughoutthecounty,locatedseparatelyorwithinmobilehomeparks.Themajorityofthecampgroundsandmarinasarelocatedalonglakeshoreandrivers.Mostotherresidentialstructuresinthecountyareconstructedusingwood,concrete,brick,andstone.Manyhomesareolderandwereconstructedusinglimestoneandothermasonrymaterials;thesehomesarebuiltontraditionalfoundationswithbasementsorcrawlspaces.



Somenewerhomesareconcreteslabconstructionwithoutbasementsorcrawlspaces.Thesehomesaremostpronetosuperficialdamage,roofdamage,andfallingtreesduringtornadoesandseverewindstorms.Commercialbuildingsareconstructedofconcrete,brick,concreteblock,stone,andwood.Theyaregenerallybuiltonconcreteslabswithstructuralsupporttrussesandpitchedroofconstructiontofacilitatesnowandicemeltandrunoff.Flatroofbuildings,suchasshoppingcentersandbig-boxtyperetailstores,aresusceptibletoheavysnowinblizzardconditions;thereisnoidentifiablehistoryofroofcollapseincidentsduetosnoworice.PropertydamagefromtornadoesinOttawaCountygenerallyincludesdamagedroofs,guttersanddownspouts,trees,andtheoccasionaldestructionofawholebuilding.Mobilehomesaredamagedordestroyedinthemostseriousoutbreaks.Outbuildings,barns,andstoragebuildingscanbedamagedbecausethesestructuresarelessresistanttowinddamageandarefrequentlybuiltonconcreteslabsordirtfoundations.ThetornadoscenarioisanEF4stormthattravelsthroughthevillageofClayCenterandpartsofAllenandBentonTownshipsbeforemovingoutoverLakeErie.Tenhomes,fourbusinesses,andtwocriticalfacilitiesarecompletelydestroyedwhilemanyotherssufferminortomoderatedamage.

Table2-39:TornadoScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 221 $904,444Non-Residential 4 $942,632CriticalFacilities 13 $270,778Totals 238 $2,117,854

WindStormDamageProfileWindincidentsarelikelytooccurinOhioandOttawaCountywouldbeinthelikelyimpactzone.Inrecentyears,OttawaCountyhasexperiencedseveralhighwindevents.Thesetypicallydamagetrees,whichleadtoobstructedroadwaysanddownedpowerlines.Cropdamageanddestructionisalsoaconcern.Whenhighwindsdamageyoungandmaturingcrops,yieldscanbesignificantlyreduced,whichnegativelyimpactsthecounty’seconomy.StrongnortheastwindsoffofLakeErieareaparticularconcernasthesewindsaretypicallyverystrongandcancausesignificantdamage.Whenthesenortheastwindscombinewithhighlakelevels,thelow-lyingareasalongthelakeshoreandmajorriverscanbecomeinundated.Forthewindstormscenario,awindstormthatstrikestheeastendofOttawaCounty,includingCatawbaIsland,Portage,andDanburyTownshipsandthevillageofMarblehead,wassimulated.Thestormdownedtrees,destroyedproperty,andcausedmajordisruptiontodailylife.Therewasnosignificantprecipitationwiththestorm.Fivepercentofpropertiessuffered



exteriordamagetoroofs,patios,trees,andsiding.Damagesareapproximatelyfivepercentofthepropertyvalue.

Table2-40:WindstormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 520 $5,727,411Non-Residential 43 $865,489CriticalFacilities 7 $614,453Totals 570 $7,207,342

WinterStormDamageProfileWinterstormshavethepotentialtoaffecteveryhome,business,orpropertyinOttawaCounty.Becauseofthecounty’smostlyflatterrain,noareaofthecountyismoreorlessvulnerabletosnowfall.Theconsistentelevationsandopen,ruralareascreateconditionsperfectforblowinganddriftingsnow,causinglowvisibilityacrossthecounty.Poweroutagescanoccuracrosstheentirecountyduringblizzardsorsnowstormswithsignificantice,wind,orheavysnowfall.Withtheexceptionofnewerresidentialdevelopments,almostallofthecounty’selectriclinesareaboveground,makingthemvulnerabletowindandice.Majorsupplylinesarealsoabovegroundastheyenterthecounty.Thesesubstationsarevulnerabletowind,heavysnow,andiceeveninareaswhereresidentiallinesarenot.Therefore,poweroutagesarethemostsignificantriskduringwinterweatherevents.In2014and2015,OttawaCounty,alongwithmuchofOhioandtheMidwest,experiencedexceptionallylongandcoldwinters.Seasonalsnowfalltotalswereaboveaverageandtemperaturesweresignificantlylowerthannormal.Inspiteoftheunusualsnowfallamountsandexceptionallycoldtemperatures,thecountydidnotreportanypropertydamagesorlossoflifeasaresultoftheextremewinterconditions.Thecountyexperiencedshort-terminconvenienceaftereachincident,includingclosedschoolsandbusiness,treacheroustravelconditions,extremecold,andblowinganddriftingsnow,butnothingthatimpactedthecountyonmorethanatemporary,short-termbasis.Thelossestimatesforwinterstormsarerelativelylowinspiteofrecentandseverewinterseasons.Thereisnoidentifiablehistoryofpropertylossduetosnowpack,avalanche,orotherwinterstormrelatedcause.Reasonablyanticipatedlossesfromwinterstormsincludecontentloss,suchasfoodandperishableslostduringpowerinterruptions,minordamagetoroadways,suchaspotholes,orvehiculardamagecausedbytrafficaccidentsinslipperyconditions.Thecountywouldonlyexperiencesignificantdamagetobuildingsandcriticalinfrastructureinthemostsevereandunusualwinterweatherincidents.Forthewinterstormscenario,ablizzardinthevillageofElmorewassimulated.Residentialdamagewaslimitedtocontentsandseveraldamagedroofsandelectricalsystems.Businesslosseswerehigherduetoflat-roofstructuresandpolebuildingtypeconstructionthatislessresistanttoheavesnow.Asaresult,fivehomesaredamagedanduninhabitablefortwoweeks



andeightbusinessesexperiencedcollapseproblemsduetosnowload.Severalcriticalfacilities,includingseveralusedforsheltersandresourcecenters,experiencedthesameproblem.

Table2-41:WinterStormScenarioVulnerabilityAnalysisBuildingType NumberofBuildings Exposure

Residential 5 $152,169Non-Residential 8 $934,902CriticalFacilities 6 $1,907,301Totals 19 $2,994,372

2.4RISKASSESSMENTBasedonthishazardandvulnerabilityinformation,OttawaCountyisatriskfordamagesfromavarietyofdisasters.Todeterminethecounty’slevelofrisk,eachhazardwasevaluatedandscoredbasedoncommoncriteria.Thesecriteriaincludedfrequency,responseduration,speedofonset,magnitude,andimpactonbusiness,people,andproperty.Table2-42describestheoverallscaleusedtoscoreeachhazard.Table2-43providesdetailsonthemagnitudescaleandthecompositescoresforeachhazardpresentinOttawaCountyandtheirrespectiverankareidentifiedintable2-44.

Table2-42AssessmentScale

Score Frequency ResponseDuration

SpeedofOnset Magnitude Business

ImpactHumanImpact

PropertyImpact

1 None <½Day >24Hours Localized <24Hours Minimum <10%2 Low <1Day 12-24

HoursLimited 1Week Low 10-25%

3 Medium <1Week 6-12Hours

Critical 2Weeks Medium 25-50%

4 High <1Month <6Hours Catastrophic >30Days High >50%5 Excessive >1Month

FrequencyHazardeventsthatoccurregularlyareahigherriskthanthosethatoccurinfrequently.

• 1=None/Oncein100years• 2=Low/Oncein50years• 3=Medium/Oncein25years• 4=High/Oncein1-3years• 5=Excessive/Morethanannual

ResponseDurationResponsedurationisdefinedastheamounttimetheresponsetoaparticularhazardisanticipatedtolast.

• 1=Lessthan½day• 2=Lessthan1day• 3=Lessthan1week



• 4=Lessthan1month• 5=Morethan1month

SpeedofOnsetSpeedofonsetaddressestheamountofadvancewarningacommunityhasbeforeeachhazardoccurs.

• 1=Morethan24hours• 2=12-24hours• 3=6-12hours• 4=Lessthan6hours

MagnitudeMagnitudeisratedusingstandarddamagescalessuchastheEnhancedFujitaScale,orthroughdevelopmentofalocalcomparativescalethatiscomparableindamagesatlikelevelsusingtheestablisheddamagescales.Somescalesfromothergeographicregions,suchastheNorthEastSnowIndexScale,wereusedasmodelstodevelopacomparativetoolinOttawaCounty.

Table2-43:MagnitudeScale

Score Tornado Windstorm Flood Earthquake Drought WinterStorm

1 EF-0/1 <65mph Minor <5.9 D-0VeryDryD-1Moderate

<8”snow

2 EF-2 65-75mph Moderate 6.0-6.9 D-2Severe 8-12”snow3 EF-3 76-85mph Significant 7.0-7.9 D-3Extreme 12-16”snow4 EF-4/5 >86mph Major >8.0 D-4Exceptional >16”snow

BusinessImpactBusinessimpactreferstothepotentialeconomicimpactahazardeventislikelytohaveonacommunity.Thedefinitionofeachscorereferstotheamountoftimecriticalfacilitiesarelikelytobeshutdownintheimpactedcommunity.

• 1=Lessthan24hours• 2=1week• 3=Atleast2weeks• 4=Morethan30days

HumanImpactHumanimpactisdefinedasthenumberoflivespotentiallylostforaparticularhazard.

• 1=Minimum/Minorinjuries• 2=Low/Someinjuries• 3=Medium/Multiplesevereinjuries• 4=High/Multiplefatalities



PropertyImpactPropertyimpactisdefinedasthenumberamountofpropertypotentiallylostduringagivenhazardevent.

• 1=Lessthan10%damaged• 2=10-25%damaged• 3=25-50%damaged• 4=Morethan50%damaged

Table2-44:RiskAssessment

Hazard Freq

uency

Respon

se

Duration

Spee

dof

Onset

Magnitude

Busine

ss

Impa

ct

Hum

an

Impa

ct

Prop

erty

Impa

ct

Score RankCoastalErosion 4 3 1 1 1 2 15 3Dam/LeveeFailure 1 3 1 1 1 1 1 9 9Drought/ExtremeHeat 3 4 1 1 1 1 1 12 6Earthquake 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 10 8Flood 4 2 3 2 1 1 2 17 1LandSubsidence 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 7 10SevereThunderstorm 4 3 3 1 1 1 1 14 4Tornado 3 1 3 1 1 1 1 11 7Windstorm 5 3 4 1 1 1 1 16 2WinterStorm 4 3 1 1 2 1 1 13 5

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