CHAPTER 12.
CITY OF PALOUSE ANNEX
12.1 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN POINT OF CONTACT
Joyce Beeson, Clerk/Treasurer
P.O. Box 248
Palouse, WA 99161
Phone: 509-878-1811
e-mail: [email protected]
12.2 CITY PROFILE
Population:
1,010 (as of April 1, 2005)
The City of Palouse is located in Whitman County in the southeastern corner of Washington State. The
economy of the area is generally agriculture-oriented occupations and businesses. Neighboring
communities are Garfield, 9 miles to the north and Pullman, 16 miles to the south. The Palouse River,
which flows through the southern section of the corporate limits, is a small river that originates in the
Hoodoo Mountains of Idaho to the east. Commercial and residential structures are located both north and
south of the Palouse River floodplain in the central portion of the City of Palouse. Other areas of town
through which the Palouse River flows are sparsely developed and used chiefly as farm and grazing land.
The topography rises above the river elevation into rolling hills. Typically the Palouse River flows
through a wide floodplain in this area. However, the river is topographically restricted as it passes through
Palouse, exacerbating the flood potential. Vegetation along the river consists of grasses mixed with
evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Area soils are medium textured soils formed from airborne
loess deposits. They are well drained with moderate to slow permeability and high water holding
capacity.
The climate of the Palouse basin is influenced by a mix of continental and marine air masses. Marine
polar air masses from the north Pacific predominate in the winter, producing relatively mild, wet
conditions. Occasionally, outbreaks of very cold continental polar air, originating in north central Canada,
cross the continental divide. The mid-winter average temperature is 30ºF. Mean annual precipitation in
Palouse is about 25 inches. From December through February, precipitation generally occurs as snow.
Summers are usually warm and dry with average high temperatures in the low to mid-80s.
12.2.1 Palouse History
(Portions of this history were taken from Growing Up in the Palouse by J.B. West and Grubstaking the
Palouse by Richard C. Waldbauer.)
The origin of the city’s name is not certain. Local Indians were known as the Paloos. Lewis and Clark
referred to them as the Pallots-Pallah Indians. Later, French missionaries may have understood the name
as “pelouse” which is the French word for lawn or greensward. This word certainly describes the
springtime appearance of the Palouse hills. In 1872, Colfax was chosen as the Whitman County seat.
12-1
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes…
Palouse City was settled at about this time as a gateway to gold discoveries at the headwaters of the
Palouse River and for the timberlands in its watershed. The first building in Palouse was James Smith’s
log cabin built near the site of the present pump house on his 1873 land claim. A mill dam and grist mill
built by William Breeding soon followed near the present “F” Street Bridge. Other businesses were
established on the steep hillside near the mill.
As Palouse City grew, it expanded to the narrow, marshy meadow north of the river. This area was
subject to flooding; therefore, the new buildings were put on blocks. The city grew slowly but steadily.
The Palouse River was an important outlet for Idaho logs. Ongoing mining to the east supported
businesses that outfitted and supplied goods for prospectors that mined the Hoodoo District of Idaho.
By 1888, the year the railroad arrived in Palouse, homesteaders in the region knew the area could
successfully produce grain, livestock and fruit. The railroad provided the means to transport these
products to national and world-wide markets. The “Village of Palouse City” incorporated early in the
same year. Like many other cities of the west, Palouse suffered a fire that destroyed many of the pioneer
buildings on Main Street, east of Bridge Street, on May 17, 1888. Much of downtown was rebuilt using
local clay and locally fired bricks. By 1890, the population of the immediate area had reached 1,000
people. The “Boomerang” weekly newspaper was first published in 1882. The first public school was
built in 1883. A city well was dug in 1890. The following year, H.W. Bassett received a franchise to
furnish electricity to the city. Automobiles arrived in 1905.
Palouse continued as a farm and lumber product processing and shipping center through the early 1900s.
Through the early part of the century, the city supported several hotels and a wide variety of businesses
and trades. The lumber industry declined after Frederick Weyerhaeuser built his mill at Potlatch, Idaho.
Since then, the Palouse region has grown from a frontier grassland, with timber and mining interests, into
one of most productive wheat and grain areas of the United States.
The City of Palouse is a 2nd class city with mayor-council form of government, consisting of seven
elected council members and an elected mayor. This governing body will assume responsibility for
adoption and implementation of this plan. Services provided by the City include: police, fire and water
and sewer services managed by a Department of Public Works.
Based on data from the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Palouse has experienced a
relatively flat rate of growth. The overall population increased only 1.2 percent per year between 1990
and 2000 and has shown a 2 percent decrease from 2000 to 2005. With this rate of growth, the anticipated
development trends for Palouse are low to moderate, consisting primarily of residential development.
Whitman County and its cities have adopted critical areas and resources lands regulations pursuant to the
Growth Management Act, but are not subject to the law’s full planning requirements. The City of Palouse
has mechanisms available to manage future development via regulations identified in a zoning ordinance.
12-2
…12. CITY OF PALOUSE ANNEX
12.3 NATURAL HAZARD EVENT HISTORY SPECIFIC TO THE CITY
NATURAL HAZARD EVENTS
Type of Event
FEMA Disaster
# (if applicable)
Date
Preliminary Damage Assessment
Wildland Fire
n/a
August, 2005
Not yet assessed
Flood
1159
12/26/1996
Information not available
Flood
1100
1/26/96
$1.6 Million
Severe Weather
981
3/4/1993
Information not available
Volcanic Ash
623
5/21/1980
Information not available
Flood
414
1/25/74
Information not available
•
Number of FEMA Identified Repetitive Flood Loss Properties:
0
•
Number of Repetitive Flood Loss Properties that have been mitigated:
0
12.4 NATURAL HAZARD RISK/VULNERABILITY RISK RANKING
NATURAL HAZARD RISK RANKING
Rank #
Hazard type
Estimate of Potential Dollar Losses to Structures
Vulnerable to the Hazarda
Probability of
Occurrenceb
1
Flood (100-Year)
$459,300
High
2
Severe Weather
$283,305
High
3
Earthquake (100-year)
$48,471
Medium
4
Volcano
$28,330
Low
5
Drought
No measurable impact on structures c
High
6
Wildland Fire
No measurable impact on structures
High
a. Building damage ratio estimates based on FEMA 386-2 (August 2001)
b. High = Hazard event is likely to occur within 25 years; Medium = Hazard event is likely to occur within
100 years; Low = Hazard event is not likely to occur within 100 years
c. Although this event would not impact structures, it could have an economic impact related to drought’s
impact on farming.
12.5 COALITION PARTNER CITY CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
This section identifies the following capabilities of the local jurisdiction:
•
Legal and regulatory capability
•
Administrative and technical capability
•
Fiscal capability
•
Community classification.
12-3
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes…
12.5.1 Legal and Regulatory Capability
LEGAL AND REGULATORY CAPABILITY
Regulatory Tools
(Codes, Ordinances.
Plans)
Local
Authority
Prohibitions
Other
State
(State or Jurisdictional
Federal)
Authority
Mandated Comments
1.) Building Code
Yes
No
No
Yes
International Building Code
(IBC); PMC: Chapter 15;
Adopted: 2004
2.) Zoning Ordinance
Yes
No
No
No
PMC: Chapter 17; Adopted:
1984, Amended 1996
3.) Subdivision
Ordinance
Yes
No
No
No
PMC: Chapter 18; Adopted:
1996
4.) Special Purpose
Ordinances (floodplain
management, critical or
sensitive areas)
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Flood Damage Prevention
Ordinancea PMC: 15.36,
Adopted: January 2001
5.) Growth
Management
Yes
No
No
No
Critical Areas and resource
lands only.
6.) Floodplain
Management or Basin
plan
Yes
No
No
No
City of Palouse Flood
Mitigation Plan; Adopted
December 16, 1996
7.) Stormwater
Management Plan
No
No
No
No
8.) General Plan or
Comprehensive Plan
Yes
No
No
No
City of Palouse Comprehensive
Plan; Adopted 1998
9.) Capital
Improvements Plan
Yes
No
No
No
Six year CIP for water, sewer,
roads is updated annually.
10.) Site Plan review
requirements
Yes
No
No
Yes
For commercial projects >
$100,000
11.) Habitat
Conservation Plan
No
No
No
No
12.) Economic
development plan
No
No
No
No
13.) Emergency
Response plan
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Under jurisdiction of Whitman
County Emergency Response
Plan
14.) Shoreline
Management Plan
Yes
No
No
Yes
State level SEPA/ Adopted
Whitman County Shoreline
Master program
15.) Post Disaster
Recovery Plan
No
No
No
No
Critical areas regulations
contained within Zoning
Ordinanceb
12-4
…12. CITY OF PALOUSE ANNEX
LEGAL AND REGULATORY CAPABILITY
Regulatory Tools
(Codes, Ordinances.
Plans)
Local
Authority
Prohibitions
Other
State
(State or Jurisdictional
Federal)
Authority
Mandated Comments
16.) Post Disaster
Recovery Ordinance
No
No
No
No
17.) Real Estate
Disclosure requirement
No
No
Yes
Yes
a
RCW 64.06
The city’s Flood Plain Damage Prevention Ordinance regulates development as follows :
Encroachments, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements, or other development are prohibited
in designated floodways unless a registered professional engineer or architect can demonstrate that the
encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during the occurrence of the base flood discharge.
Construction or substantial improvement of residential structures is prohibited within designated floodways
(exceptions may be given to certain repairs).
Where flood elevation data are available, commercial and residential construction within the base flood area shall
have the lowest floor (including basements) elevated 1 foot or more above the base flood elevation.
All new construction and substantial improvements within the base flood area shall be anchored to prevent
flotation, collapse, or lateral movement (to include manufactured homes).
Materials, design, and methods used within the base flood area shall be selected to minimize flood damage.
A development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within the base flood area.
b Zoning regulations for the City of Palouse designate the area within the 100-year floodplain to be a “frequently
flooded area” as it relates to critical areas designation under the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA). The
GMA seeks to restrict development in frequently flooded areas, encourages public acquisition of the land and
promotes compatible uses such as park lands or preserves
12.5.2 Administrative and Technical Capability
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITY
Staff/Personnel Resources
Available
Department/Agency/Position
1.) Planners or Engineers with knowledge
of land development and land management
practices
No
No planners/engineers on Staff. Can/do contract
for services.
2.) Engineers or Professionals trained in
construction practices related to buildings
and/or infrastructure
No
No planners/engineers on Staff. Can/do contract
for services.
3.) Planners or engineers with an
understanding of natural hazards
No
No planners/engineers on Staff. Can contract for
services.
4.) Floodplain Manager
Yes
Mayor is designated as the Floodplain
Administrator by ordinance.
5.) Surveyors
No
No surveyors on staff. Can contract for services
as needed.
6.) Personnel skilled or trained in GIS
applications
No
12-5
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes…
ADMINISTRATIVE AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITY
Staff/Personnel Resources
Available
7.) Scientist familiar with natural hazards in
Whitman County
No
8.) Emergency Manager
Yes
9.) Grant Writers
No
10.) Staff with expertise or training in
benefit/cost analysis
No
Department/Agency/Position
Police Chief
12.5.3 Fiscal Capability
FISCAL CAPABILITY
Financial Resources
Accessible or Eligible to Use
(Yes/No/Don’t know)
1.) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Yes, depending on allocation
2.) Capital Improvements Project Funding
Yes, when applicable.
3.) Authority to Levy Taxes for specific Purposes
Yes
4.) User fees for water, sewer, gas or electric service
Yes, water and sewer only
5.) Impact Fees for homebuyers or developers of new development/homes
No
6.) Incur debt through general obligation bonds
Yes, but not likely
7.) Incur debt through special tax bonds
No
8.) Incur debt through private activity bonds
No
9.) Withhold public expenditures in hazard-prone areas
No (could, but not likely)
10.) State sponsored grant programs such as FCAAP
Yes
11.) Other
FEMA sponsored grant funding:
PDM, HMGP, FMA
12.5.4 Community Classifications
The classifications in the following table address capabilities in all phases of emergency management
(preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation). They are used in determining costs for various forms
of insurance.
The CRS class applies to flood insurance; the BCEGS and Public Protection classifications apply to
standard property insurance. Classifications are on a scale of 1 to 10, with Class 1 being the best possible
classification, and Class 10 representing no classification benefit. Criteria for classification credits are
outlined in the Community Rating System Coordinators Manual, the Building Code Effectiveness
Grading Schedule, and the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule. The Firewise program outlines ways for
participating communities to promote land uses that reduce fire risk in wildland/urban interface areas. The
Storm Ready program outlines public warning activities related to severe weather for participating
communities.
12-6
…12. CITY OF PALOUSE ANNEX
COMMUNITY CLASSIFICATIONS
Program
Classification
Date Classified
Community Rating System (CRS)
n/a
n/a
Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule
(BCEGS)
6/6
2001
Public Protection
7/9*
n/a
Firewise
n/a
n/a
Whitman County is designated as
a “Storm Ready” County.
As of August 2005
Storm Ready
* Higher classification applies to when subject property is located beyond 1,000 feet of a creditable fire hydrant
and is within 5 road miles of a recognized fire station.
12.6 PROPOSED NATURAL HAZARD MITIGATION INITIATIVES
MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN
Mitigation Initiative
Hazards
Initiative
Addresses
1.) Implement the action items
identified in the City of Palouse Flood
Mitigation Plan.
Flood
2.) Develop and adopt an emergency
response plan for the City of Palouse
that will identify response actions for
all hazards that the City has exposure
and develop a post disaster action plan.
All
Hazards
3.) Acquire and remove mobile home
park and carwash properties adjacent
to the Palouse River along SR 27 west
of Shady lane. The land use of this
property acquisition would be
converted to an open space use that
would provide increased flood storage
and habitat enhancement. This project
would also be an expansion of an
existing park adjacent to the project
site.
Flood
Time
Linea
Administrating
Agency
Funding
Sources
Palouse City
Council
City held
funds, and
state and
federal
programs
Long Term 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8,
4, 5
9, 10
OG
City Held
Funds,
Short Term 1, 2, 3
2, 4, 6, 7
Short Term 1, 2, 4,
5
DOF
1, 3, 5, 9
Police Chief
Goalsb Objectivesb
DOF
Possible DHS
grant funding
Department of
Public Works
Grant
Funding:
Conservation
Futures,
FEMA grant
programs:
HMGP, PDM,
FMA
FCAAP
12-7
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes…
MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN
Mitigation Initiative
4.) Acquire former gas station property
at 335 East Main Street, which is a
designated “brown field” property, to
remove this exposure from the
floodplain.
Hazards
Initiative
Addresses
Flood
Administrating
Agency
Funding
Sources
Department of
Public Works
Grant
Funding:
Time
Linea
Goalsb Objectivesb
Short Term 1, 2, 4, 1, 3, 5, 6, 9
5
“brown field”
funding from
EPA
FEMA grant
programs:
HMGP, PDM,
FMA
FCAAP
5.) Retrofit the City-owned footbridge
across the Palouse River to provide
increased conveyance and eliminate
blockage of stream flow in high water
events. Project would also provide
seismic protection to the bridge which
was not constructed according to any
seismic standards
6.) Consider the adoption of higher
regulatory standards appropriate for
the hazards for which Palouse has
vulnerability and within the City’s
capabilities
Flood
Earthquake
Department of
Public Works
Bond Issue,
CIP funding.
DOF
1, 2, 4
3, 5
Grant
Funding:
FEMAHMGP, PDM,
FMA.
FCAAP
All
Hazards
Department of
Public Works
7.) Due to the age and type of
Earthquake
construction of City-owned buildings
such as City Hall, the Police Station
and Fire Station, the City will consider
a seismic analysis of these properties
to determine their vulnerability to
seismic events and possible mitigation
measures.
Palouse City
Council
8.) Seek flood control alternatives that
will provide the highest degree of
flood protection to the City of Palouse
that enhance/attenuate the natural and
beneficial functions of the floodplain.
Palouse City
Council
Flood
General Fund Short Term 1, 2, 4, 1, 3, 5, 9, 10
5
Grant
Funding:
Long term
1, 2
2, 4, 7
DOF
FEMA
Programs
12-8
City held
Funds,
FCAAP
Long Term 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,
4, 5
9
…12. CITY OF PALOUSE ANNEX
MITIGATION INITIATIVES/ACTION PLAN
Hazards
Initiative
Addresses
Administrating
Agency
Funding
Sources
Time
Linea
9.) Support countywide initiatives that
promote the education of the public on
the impacts of natural hazards within
Whitman County, and the
preparedness for and the mitigation of
those impacts. This support will be in
the form of dissemination of
appropriate information to the
residents of Palouse and continuing
support/participation in the Whitman
County Natural Hazards Mitigation
Planning Partnership.
All
Hazards
Palouse City
Council
General Fund
OG/Short
Term
10.) Consider voluntary participation
in programs such as the Community
Rating System, Firewise and Storm
Ready programs that will provide
benefits/incentives to the Citizens of
Palouse for hazard mitigation.
Flood,
Wildfire
Palouse City
Council
General Fund Long Term 1, 2, 3
11.) Continue to coordinate and work
with Whitman County Emergency
Management in disaster response and
preparedness. This level of
coordination should include: updates to
the Emergency response plan,
development of a post disaster action
plan, training and support.
All
Hazards
Palouse City
Council,
General Fund
Mitigation Initiative
a.
b.
OG/Short
Term
Goalsb Objectivesb
1, 2, 3
1, 2, 3
2, 6, 7
2, 6, 7, 8
2, 4, 6
Police Chief
Short term = 1 to 5 years; Long term = 5 years or greater, OG = Ongoing program, DOF=Depending on Funding
See Volume 1, Chapter 5, Section 5.3.1 and Table 5-1.
12-9
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes…
12.7 PRIORITIZATION OF MITIGATION INITIATIVES
PRIORITIZATION OF MITIGATION INITIATIVES
# of
Initiative Objectives
#
Met
Benefits
Costs
Can project be
Do benefits Is project
Priority
funded under
equal or
grant
existing programs/
(High,
exceed costs? eligible?
Med., Low)
budgets?
1
8
High
High
Yes
Yes
No
High
2
4
Medium
Low
Yes
Yes
No
Medium
3
4
High
High
Yes
Yes
No
High
4
5
High
High
Yes
Yes
No
High
5
3
Medium
Medium
Yes
Yes
No
Medium
6
5
Medium
Low
Yes
No
Yes
High
7
3
Medium
Medium
Yes
No
No
Low
8
6
Medium
Medium
Yes
No
No
Low
9
3
Low
Low
Yes
Yes
Yes
High
10
4
Low
Low
Yes
No
Yes
Medium
11
3
Medium
Low
Yes
No
Yes
High
12.7.1 Explanation of Priorities
•
High Priority—A project that meets multiple objectives (i.e., multiple hazards), has benefits
that exceed cost, has funding secured or is an ongoing project and meets eligibility
requirements for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) or Pre-Disaster Mitigation
Grant Program (PDM). High priority projects can be completed in the short term (1 to
5 years).
•
Medium Priority—A project that meets goals and objectives, that has benefits that exceed
costs, and for which funding has not been secured but project is grant eligible under HMGP,
PDM or other grant programs. Project can be completed in the short term, once funding is
secured. Medium priority projects will become high priority projects once funding is secured.
•
Low Priority—A project that will mitigate the risk of a hazard, that has benefits that do not
exceed the costs or are difficult to quantify, for which funding has not been secured, that is
not eligible for HMGP or PDM grant funding, and for which the time line for completion is
long term (1 to 10 years). Low priority projects may be eligible for other sources of grant
funding from other programs.
Prioritization of initiatives was based on above definitions X
Prioritization of initiatives was based on parameters other than stated above: N/A
12-10
…12. CITY OF PALOUSE ANNEX
12.8 FUTURE NEEDS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND
RISK/VULNERABILITY
Once tools and technology such as GIS become available for the Whitman County planning area, the
HIVA needs to be updated in a map format so this information can be better used as a planning and public
outreach tool.
12.9 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The City has developed and adopted a Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan (CFHMP) that is
consistent with the Washington State legislative framework for comprehensive flood hazard management
planning. Since flooding is the hazard for which the City of Palouse has the most vulnerability, this plan
will guide the city’s efforts to mitigate and manage its floodplains. The CFHMP for Palouse is
incorporated into the Palouse Jurisdictional Annex of the Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation
Plan by reference. These two plans will work as one when identifying strategies for the mitigation of the
flood hazard within Palouse. A copy of the Palouse Flood Mitigation Plan is on file at the Palouse City
Hall located at: East 120 Main Street, Palouse, WA 99161-0248. The executive summary of the CFHMP
is included at the end of this annex.
12-11
…12. CITY OF PALOUSE ANNEX
12-13
Whitman County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; Volume 2—Planning Partner Annexes…
12-14