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SUMMARY

Nooksack Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan

This Plan was created to guide current and future efforts to effectively and efficiently mitigate natural hazards on the Nooksack Indian Reservation, individual trust allotment lands and other areas of Tribal interest. It identifies potential mitigation actions the Nooksack Indian Tribe can implement as resources and funding become available. Mitigation actions can be grouped into six broad categories:

1. Prevention.

2. Property Protection

3. Public Education and Awareness.

4. Natural Resource Protection

5. Emergency Services

6. Structural Projects.

Executive Summary


Introduction

The Nooksack Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) was created to guide current and future efforts to effectively and efficiently mitigate natural hazards on the Nooksack Indian Reserva-tion, individual trust allotment lands and other areas of Tribal interest. This plan will help re-duce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural disasters/severe storm events. Some of these events include river flooding (Nooksack River), earthquakes (Boulder Creek Fault), severe weather events (wind, snow), wildfires, volcanic lahars (Kweq’ Smànit, also known as Mt. Baker), and landslides.

The HMP Plan solicited input from various entities, including but not limited to, the Nooksack

Tribal Community, local, state, and federal agencies and governments, Whatcom County resi-

dents, businesses, academia and nonprofit groups. This broad-based approach promotes coor-

dination among the various stakeholders that would potentially be involved during an event. It

also enabled the development of a plan that helps create a disaster-resistant community by

reducing the threat of natural hazards to life, property, emergency response capabilities, eco-

nomic stability, and infrastructure, while encouraging the protection and restoration of natu-

ral and cultural resources.

Nooksack HMP Mitigation Goals: Protect the health, safety and welfare of the Tribal Community members, Tribal property,

cultural and sacred sites, and natural resources.

Reduce the risk and vulnerability of the Tribal Lands and Tribal community to natural disas-

ters and severe weather events.

Be prepared when severe weather/ natural disasters occur.

Reduce the recovery period after an event.

Increase Tribal and Community resiliency to large-scale events (i.e. earthquakes, volcanic

activity).

Become more aware of and adaptable to defending against natural hazards as conditions,

technologies, climate, skill level, and knowledge of the Tribe changes.

Nooksack HMP Objectives: Mitigate flooding from the hillside to the structures located at False Creek/Rutsatz housing

site. Reduce isolation of the Five Cedars housing site brought on by Nooksack River flooding

events that prevent use of the Potter’s Bridge (sole access road). Reduce vulnerability to flooding at the Five Cedars Housing Site. Reduce flooding from Fish Trap Creek at Northwood Casino sewerage treatment plant.

Goals and Objectives

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Planning Process

This section will discuss the planning process used to develop the Nooksack Tribal Hazard Miti-gation Plan.

The planning process is an extremely important aspect in the development and implementa-tion of a hazard mitigation plan. It is crucial for its success to have public involvement and comments. Involving the public increases awareness of the potential hazards and educates on the importance of planning for various events, and their potential roles and responsibilities if/when an event occurs.

The Nooksack Tribe defines “public” in the following manner: Tribal membership, Tribal government and employees The surrounding local communities (i.e. Deming, Everson, Lynden, Whatcom County) Local Tribes Washington State and Federal agencies Relevant non‐government organizations The Nooksack Tribal Council maintains final authority on any/all decision making related to this Plan.

More information on which departments were primarily responsible for developing and pro-

ducing the plan, other associated activities including Public Comment and adoption of the plan

by Tribal Resolution and FEMA can be found in the Appendix.

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Program Integration

The Nooksack Tribe worked diligently to ensure the HMP Plan integrates with other current

Tribal Planning documents and all future documents such as the Comprehensive Land Use

Plan, Long Range Transportation Plan, Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Emer-

gency Operations Plan, and various FEMA programs and initiatives.

Special consideration was made when addressing the Mitigation Activities of Whatcom County

to allow both plans to flow concurrently, except where those activities ran counter to the

Tribe’s stated goals of this Plan.

The Appendix also lists the various documents the Nooksack Tribe used to integrate the Tribal

Hazard Mitigation Plan.

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Site Description

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Vulnerability Comment

Five Cedars housing/ Elders Com-plex

Elders housing/single family homes High

Area in Floodplain with po-tential access cut off

Rutsatz Housing Single Family Homes Moderate

Flooding/landslides from hill above, wildfires from woods/logging/gas line rup-ture/lahar

Deming/ Reservation

Town of Deming, Automotive Shop, Casino, Market, Ad-ministration, Individ-ual Homes, Head-start/Daycare High

Vulnerable to flooding and lahar debris

Mission Rd Area

Administration Fa-cilities, Clinic, Educa-tional Facilities, Suchanon Housing Sulwahnon Housing, Whispering Cedars Apartments Moderate

Above floodplain but subject to severe winter weather, cold, snowdrifts, loss of power, flooding to homes near Anderson Creek/Roberts Road. Terasen Pipe-line runs near Suchanon Housing.

Northwood

Individually owned homes/wastewater treatment facility, casino Moderate

Minor flooding to Casino sewage treatment plant, severe winter weather/cold

Antone Al-lotment

Un-developed Allot-ment land Low

Undeveloped, with no fu-ture land use pans. Williams Pipeline runs through prop-erty

Tribal vil-lage/fishing sites

Cultural/Historical Sites, Traditional Gathering/Fishing Sites High

Sites can be lost by flooding/channel migration or buried under lahar deposits

North Fork Nooksack/ Mt. Baker Highway

Cultural/Historical Sites, Traditional Gathering/Fishing Sites Moderate

Loss of access, damage from events

Exposure and Vulnerability of Tribal Housing Sites

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Tribal Facilities, Exposure and Vulnerability

Facility Address Vulner-ability

Mitiga-tion

Comment Hazards Exposure

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(H,M,L) Actions

Administra-tion Building

5016 Deming Rd Deming WA 98244

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Nooksack Counseling Center

6746 Mission Rd Everson WA 98247

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Education Department

5066 First St Deming WA 98244

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Enrollment Office

5047 Mt Baker Hwy Deming WA 98244

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Tribal Clinic 6760 Mission Rd Everson WA 98247

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Five Cedars Elders Build-ing

3858 Ulu-quance Dr Deming WA 98244

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Genesis II 6750 Mission Rd Everson WA 98247

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Nooksack TANF - Dem-ing

4979 Mt Baker Hwy#B Deming WA 98244

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Nooksack TANF - Belling-ham

1329 Lincoln St#1 Belling-ham WA 98229

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Nooksack TANF - Mt Vernon

1934 E. College Way Mt Vernon WA 98273

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House of Chil-dren

5018 Alder St.#A Deming WA 98244

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Facility Address Hazards Exposure Vulner-ability

Mitiga-tion

Comment

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House of Chil-dren II

6067 Mission Rd Everson WA 98247

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Housing De-partment

4979 Mt Baker Hwy#F Deming WA 98229

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Tribal Law Enforcement/ Emergency Risk Manage-ment

4979 Mt Baker Hwy #E1 Dem-ing WA 98244

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Planning De-partment

4975C Deming Rd Deming WA 98244

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Natural Re-sources

5016 Deming Rd Deming WA 98244

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Nooksack Maintenance

4975B Deming Rd Deming WA 98244

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Northwood Casino

9750 North-wood Rd Lyn-den WA 98264

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Nooksack River Casino

5048 Mt Baker Hwy Deming WA 98244

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Nooksack Automotive Services

4975A Deming Rd Deming WA 98244

H

Tribal Facilities, Exposure and Vulnerability (continued)

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Mitigation Strategy

This section provides the blueprint for the Nooksack Tribe to reduce potential losses from the

natural hazards identified in the Risk Assessment found in section five.

This section defines the general outcomes that can be expected as a result of successful imple-mentation of this plan. The plan goals are broad statements describing the principles that guide the actions suggested in this document. The nature of these goals allows for the Tribe to have greater flexibility in actual implementation as funding sources and needs change. The plan goals below were developed based on the outcome of planning meetings, the Risk As-sessment, and the Tribe’s Mission statement which is as follows; “To provide for the health, safety, welfare, education, economic and employment opportuni-ties, and the preservation of cultural and natural Resources of the Nooksack Indian Tribe.” Mitigation Goals:

1. Protect the health, safety and welfare of the Tribal Community members, Tribal prop-

erty, cultural and sacred sites, and natural resources.

2. Reduce the risk and vulnerability of the Tribal Lands and Tribal community to natural

disasters.

3. Be prepared for such natural disasters to strike.

4. Reduce the recovery period/time necessary in the event of a natural disaster.

5. Increase Tribal and Community resiliency to large-scale natural disasters.

6. Become more aware of and adaptable to defending against natural hazards as condi-

tions, technologies, climate, and Tribal knowledge of the hazards and their dangers to-

wards the Tribe change.

The following objectives have been identified: Mitigate flooding from hillside to the homes at False Creek/Rutsatz housing. Reduce isolation of the Five Cedars Housing Site from Nooksack River and loss of

Potter Road Bridge. Reduce vulnerability to flooding at Five Cedars Housing Site. Reduce flooding from Fish Trap Creek at Northwood Casino sewage treatment

plant.

Mitigation Goals

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The mitigations actions proposed for this Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan were identified through the HMP process detailed in the Appendix. This section identifies potential mitigation actions the Nooksack Indian Tribe can implement as resources and funding become available. Mitigation actions can be grouped into six broad categories: 18

1. Prevention. Government administrative or regulatory actions or processes that influ-

ence the way land and buildings are developed and built. These actions also include

public activities to reduce hazard losses. Examples include planning and zoning, build-

ing codes, capital improvement programs, open space preservation, and storm water

management regulations.

2. Property Protection. Actions that involve the modification of existing buildings or

structures to protect them from a hazard, or removal from the hazard area. Examples

include acquisition, elevation, relocation, structural retrofits, storm shutters, and shat-

ter-resistant glass.

3. Public Education and Awareness. Actions to inform and educate citizens, elected of-

ficials, and property owners about the hazards and potential ways to mitigate them.

Such actions include outreach projects, real estate disclosure, hazard information cen-

ters, and school-age /adult education programs.

4. Natural Resource Protection. Actions that, in addition to minimizing hazard losses,

also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. These actions include sedi-

ment and erosion control, stream corridor restoration, watershed management, forest

and vegetation management, and wetland restoration /preservation.

5. Emergency Services. Actions that protect people and property during and immedi-

ately after a disaster or hazard event. Services include warning systems, emergency

response services, and protection of critical facilities.

6. Structural Projects. Actions that involve the construction of structures to reduce the

impact of a hazard. Such structures include dams, levees, floodwalls, seawalls, retain-

ing walls, and safe rooms.

The Tribe’s process of identifying and prioritizing mitigations actions began by reviewing local and regional mitigation plans that could potentially affect the Tribe and its interests. By De-

18 State and Local Mitigation Planning How-to Guide, p 2-1 http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1886

Review of Local / Regional Mitigation Actions

Identification and Analysis of Tribal Mitigation Actions

http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=1886

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cember of 2010, an initial list of goals, objectives, and actions to support those objectives were drafted for review. The Mitigation actions reviewed came from:

Lower Nooksack Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan – 1999 http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks/documents/cfhmp1.pdf

Whatcom County Hazard Mitigation Plan - 2004 http://www.whatcomready.org/Plans/Mitigation%20Plan.pdf

Lummi Nation Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan – 2010 Update http://www.lummi-nsn.gov/NR/Water/PDF/MHMP_2010FINAL-wAppendices.pdf

This section will describe how the Nooksack Tribe’s Mitigation actions will be prioritized and

can be implemented and administrated by the Tribe.

During the review in 2010 of the draft goals and objectives, which included input from Tribal

departments and the Tribal membership, it was determined by staff that the objectives and

actions would be refined to include only actions that were feasible and implementable during

the next five years of the mitigation process. A meeting was held on August 29, 2011, to re-

view the refined list of mitigation actions and add newly identified actions.

Due to the nature of the mitigation actions identified, especially in regards to a lack of FEMA-eligible projects, a formal cost- benefit analysis (CBA) was not conducted for each of the iden-tified actions. If certain projects are deemed fundable by FEMA, a CBA will be conducted prior to the development of grant applications. A formal method of evaluation was not used; however, the following considerations were made during the process.

Cost effective: Can this action be implemented within the current budget or with current available funding?

Relevancy: Is this action relevant to the mitigation goals of the Tribe? Political Will: Is this an action that the Tribe can implement during the next five

years?

The Nooksack Planning Department will oversee the implementation of the mitigation actions and will identify and work with relevant departments and outside agencies. Each mitigation

Implementation of Mitigation Actions

Prioritization

Implementation

http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks/documents/cfhmp1.pdf

http://www.whatcomready.org/Plans/Mitigation%20Plan.pdf

http://www.lummi-nsn.gov/NR/Water/PDF/MHMP_2010FINAL-wAppendices.pdf

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action has an implementation timeline, which is as follows:

On-going: Mitigation action will begin short-term and will continue indefinitely. Short-term: Mitigation action can be implemented within one-to-three years. Long-term: Mitigation action will be implemented within three-to-five years. If not

begun within five years, the action will be re-evaluated in the five-year update(s) of

this plan.

The Planning Department will work to identify funding sources, if applicable, for the imple-

mentation of actions. Many of the actions identified and prioritized can be implemented with-

out major outside funding, and thus can be carried out within the existing Tribal budget.

The Tribe identified thirteen (13) mitigation actions for implementation, but did not rank

them. They are listed in the table at the end of this section..

Currently the Nooksack Indian Tribe’s capabilities to deal with disaster events are quite lim‐

ited.

Nonetheless, a framework is in place to develop and expand Tribal capabilities. The Tribe has

limited funding for hazard mitigation planning and projects.

Planning During the mitigation planning process, the Tribe has been mapping and digitizing its property

records for Tribal lands and allotments, as well as mapping all Tribal buildings and housing.

This ongoing effort will assist in land-use planning. It will help the Tribe better identify hazard

areas, assist in public safety, and emergency management efforts.

Comprehensive Land Use Plan The Tribe is currently developing a compressive land use plan that will regulate and limit de-

velopment in high hazard areas and/or designate areas intended for conservation.

Administration

Mitigation Actions and Activities

Tribal Capabilities


Nooksack Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) The Nooksack Tribe’s CEMP was developed to provide a comprehensive framework for Tribal

disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery operations on the Nooksack Reser-

vation, lands, and communities the Tribe serves. Its purpose is to establish the emergency

management functions and responsibilities of the Nooksack Indian Tribal Council and its com-

mittees, departments, and programs, and to facilitate the Tribe’s involvement in multi-agency

and multi-jurisdictional responses to natural or fabricated disasters.

The Tribe is currently updating the CEMP and will incorporate the results of the Risk Assess-

ment into that plan.

Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) The Tribe is currently revising it’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and will incorporate the mitigations factors as applicable to the plan. The Tribe currently does not have many regulations related to limiting the effects of natural hazards. The Tribe has adopted two Resolutions.

Resolution #07-58 adopts the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, as well as estab-lishes a Tribal Emergency Management Council. Resolution #10-63 establishes an emergency management contact for the Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council.

The Tribe adopted the International Building Code (IBC) and will build future structures to

highest IBC earthquake standards. The Tribe may adopt development and land use codes, as

well as a floodplain ordinance, in the future to limit development in high hazard areas.

The Office of Emergency Management and key staff have been trained in the use of Ham Ra-

dios.

Nooksack Emergency Management Council : The Emergency Management Council was estab-lished by Resolution 07-58 to coordinate the implementation and maintenance of the Tribe’s CEMP.

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 19: The Nooksack Indian Tribe does not currently par-ticipate in the National Flood Insurance Program. The Tribe plans to start as part of its Mitiga-tion Strategy.

Nooksack Health Department: It plays a vital role in emergency management planning, Medi-


cal Reserve Corps, coordinating with the Washington State Department of Health, and the In-

dian Health Service.

Nooksack CERT Training: The Nooksack Tribe has a Community Emergency Response Team

(CERT) training program. Many Tribal staff and community members have taken the training.

The team has been activated during events, including assisting with sandbagging during the

December 2010, storm.

Nooksack Department of Emergency/Risk Management: The Nooksack Tribe’s Emergency/Risk

Management Department oversees the Tribe’s Emergency Response and Disaster Mitigation

programs. The office coordinated with local, state, and federal partners, as well as other

Tribes, in disaster planning. The office helps bring in grant funding for the Tribe and sponsors

trainings. The department recently trained and certified two volunteer emergency medical

technicians, and has one emergency spill volunteer.

Northwest Tribal Emergency Management Council (NWTEMC) :The Nooksack Tribe is member

of the NWTEMC (resolution #10-63), which was formed to address homeland security and

emergency management issues that tribes face in Washington State.

The development of the NWTEMC not only better prepares Tribal entities for emergency inci-dents, but also provides more opportunities for the Tribes to work collaboratively to assist one another in meeting the mandates of related emergency management programs and foster partnerships with their neighboring counties and municipalities. The Department of Homeland Security’s guidance identifies tribal entities as key stakeholders in partnerships with state, lo‐cal, and private sectors.

National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance training: The Nooksack Indian Tribe

is training relevant staff in the National Incident Management System so they are compliant

with NIMS and can effectively respond to a major event.

There are currently no identified projects that the Tribe has or is engaging in that strengthen

the capabilities of the Tribe to deal with disasters.

When the Governor of Washington asks for a Presidential Disaster Declaration, federal aid and assistance will become available.


There is considerable support for risk reduction measures following a Federal Disaster Declara-

tion. Often these programs are not taken full advantage of before permanent repairs are

made. Some of the more significant ones include:

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) offers assistance for a wide range of mitiga-

tion projects following a presidential declaration. Eligibility is restricted to projects that

have gone through a comprehensive hazard mitigation planning process.

Minimal Repair Program often funds risk reduction such as the anchoring of mobile homes.

The Small Business Administration will fund eligible mitigation measure to qualified own-

ers of damaged homes.

Outreach is available through Disaster Reconstruction Assistance Centers (DRACs), Recov-

ery Information Centers or Hazard Mitigation Teams.

Cost/Benefit Mitigation support is available from FEMA on infrastructure repair. To break

the damage-rebuild-damage cycle, FEMA Region 10 is encouraging communities to do the

following:

1. Institute mitigation betterments taking advantage of multi-hazard, multi-

objective approaches whenever possible

2. Strengthen existing infrastructure and facilities to more effectively with-

stand the next disaster

3. Ensure that communities address natural hazards through comprehensive

planning

Following a federal disaster declaration, FEMA can support cost effective mitigation on infra-

structure and have published a manual on the subject.

This section identifies current and potential sources of federal, Tribal, state, local, and private

funding to implement the mitigation actions and activities identified. The majority of the fund-

ing to implement mitigation measures will come from the federal government through grant

programs. Limited funding is also possible from the State of Washington, Whatcom County, as

well as any funding the Tribe can provide (typically In-Kind match).

Apart from the FEMA Pre-disaster Mitigation funds used to development the Hazard Mitigation

Plan, the Nooksack Tribe does not currently receive or allocate any funding to mitigation plan-

ning or activities.

Federal


Below are listed the primary federal programs and agencies that can potentially fund mitiga-tion actions and planning.

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Provides funds to develop mitigation plans and imple-ment mitigation projects. These funds are administered by FEMA (by submitting a state level plan, the Nooksack Indian Tribe will qualify as a direct grantee).

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: Provides post-disaster funds for hazard reduction pro-jects (e.g., elevation, relocation, or buyout of structures). These funds are administered by FEMA and the Washington State Emergency Management Division.

Flood Control Assistance Account Program: Provides funds for developing flood hazard management plans, for flood damage reduction projects and studies, and for emergency flood projects (e.g., repair of levees). It is administered by the Washington State Depart-ment of Ecology (Ecology).

Flood Mitigation Assistance Program: Provides funds for flood mitigation on buildings that carry flood insurance and have been damaged by floods. It is administered by FEMA.

Department of Homeland Security funding: In addition to a variety of FEMA programs. U.S. Fire Administration: Provides wildfire program funds. Environmental Protection Agency: Provides funds for projects with dual hazard mitigation

and environmental protection goals, as well as updates to this HMP and related planning efforts such as spill prevention and response planning.

Indian Health Service: Provides funds for hazard mitigation projects that address public health and safety.

Rural Development Agency (USDA): Provides loan and grant funds for housing assistance, business assistance, community development, and emergency community water and wastewater assistance in areas covered by a federal disaster declaration;

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG): Provides funds for a variety of community development projects. It is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Devel-opment.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Provides funding for coastal and waterway projects Small Business Administration Loans: Helps businesses recover from disaster damages, and

is administered by the Small Business Administration. Bureau of Indian Affairs: Provides funds to support Tribal activities.

Tribal

The Nooksack Tribe is fully committed to the public safety and welfare of its residents and

Tribal members and to the goals of the Nooksack Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Tribe has

limited resources to devote to mitigation planning. Often and when available, the Tribe will

match grant funding, either through direct monies or through the allocation of resources, such

as labor and expertise, in order to implement the actions discussed in this plan. The Tribe ac-

tively pursues additional revenue sources and will continue to do so.


State / Local

In some cases, funding may be available from the State of Washington and/or Whatcom

County, especially on mitigation actions that overlap jurisdictions, such as road and flood miti-

gation projects. The main resource for funding opportunities from the State of Washington is

from the Washington State Emergency Management Division, which helps fund mitigation

projects. The Nooksack Tribe is continually building relationships with the State of Washing-

ton, Whatcom County as well as local communities such as Everson, Lynden, Nooksack, and

Deming, in order to develop partnerships to implement mitigation measures that are regional

in scope.

Private

No potential funding from the private sector is currently identified. Nonetheless, local busi-

nesses and residents will be encouraged to participate and contribute to mitigation effort(s).

Tribal members are also encouraged to adopt mitigation activities for their homes.


Nooksack Tribe Mitigation Strategy Earth

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1. Develop a comprehensive land use plan that includes hazard as-sessment/actions On-going

2. Relocate or elevate at-risk homes out of the floodway at 5 Cedars Elders housing area. Long-term

3. Join the National Flood Insurance Program. Short-term

4. Become a StormReady commu-nity. Short-term

5. Become a Firewise community. Short-term

6. Relocate facilities outside of the 100-year floodplain. Long-term

7. Maintain community awareness/hazard awareness program(s). On-going

8. Maintain CERT & MRC programs. On-going

9. Partner and coordinate with local communities and Whatcom County for hazard mitigation. On-going

10. Identify and map elder and vul-nerable populations. Short-term

11. Install lahar-warning system for Mt Baker. Long-term

12. Maintain EQ & Flood Insurance on tribal facilities, as well encour-age tribal homeowners to maintain insurance for their own homes. On-going

13. Harden water systems, such as septic/wells to prevent damage, contamination, and spills. Long-term

Mitigation Strategies

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