Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) Annual Progress Report 2018/2019

An updated Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) was established with municipality participation and was adopted by the City per a resolution dated June 18, 2018. There were 12 action items in NHMP that required various City Staff to participate in and/or complete. A brief summary of those action items and the progress made is as follows:

Action Item 1: Establish Sub-Workgroups within the Mitigation Workgroup

The Natural Hazard Mitigation Workgroup should establish quarterly sub-workgroup meetings, based on subject matter expertise, to oversee the plan maintenance and update process.

The City of Wheaton ensures staff attends the quarterly workgroup meetings.

Action Item 2: Enhance Public Participation in Mitigation Workgroup

The Natural Hazard Mitigation Workgroup membership should be enhanced to incorporate representatives of the public (i.e. residents) and private stakeholders.

DuPage County currently leads this effort on behalf of the City of Wheaton to ensure varying public and private stakeholders are included in the process. This ensures the plan’s perspective is broader and that relationships are built and enhanced.

Action Item 3: National Weather Service StormReady® Participation

DuPage County communities should participate in the National Weather Service StormReady® program.

The City of Wheaton has invested staff time in gathering qualification information about the StormReady Program and continues to work towards participation.

Action Item 4: Critical Infrastructure Identification and Verification

DuPage County communities should verify aspects of the 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors within their jurisdiction and share findings with the County to identify mitigation opportunities, to include advanced warning systems.

The City of Wheaton has established a well-managed GIS network where Critical Infrastructure Sectors can be easily identified and quantified. Multiple layers can be included on one map to show these facility structures and accessibility routes as they relate to identified hazard areas such as floodplain and flood-prone areas.

Action Item 5: Critical Facility Back-Up Generation Assessment

DuPage County communities should identify backup generation capabilities and ensure facilities meet minimum emergency power requirements of the current code.

Backup generation capabilities for the City’s lift stations, pumping stations, and water towers have been assessed. The generators located at these facilities are maintained routinely by Public Works Staff. Other critical facilities will be assessed in the future to determine adequacy per requirements of current codes.;

Action Item 6: Adopt County-Wide Public Outreach Monthly Topics

DuPage County communities should adopt the Illinois Emergency Management Agency’s (IEMA) Monthly Preparedness Topics.

The City’s Communications Department broadcasted a few of the monthly recommended IEMA preparedness topics this past year. As we move forward, the City will look to build on its public outreach to ensure the inclusion of additional topics.

Action Item 7: Flood Control and Property Protection Projects

DuPage County and its communities should continue to partner on flood control – both structural and green infrastructure - and property protection projects.

The City of Wheaton continues to be open to partnering on flood control projects containing structural components or green infrastructure. The City continues to strengthen its stormwater program by completing Hydrologic and Hydraulic studies for flood-prone areas within the City. This allows for quantitative data to be collected and presented to the public. This information along with possible project alternatives is actively being put on the City’s website and may result in projects being initiated as the City moves forward.

Action Item 8: Improve Building Code Ratings

DuPage County communities should seek to improve their Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) rating.

The City is currently in the process of evaluating their BCEGS rating with the Insurance Services Office and an interview is scheduled for January 23, 2019. A 22-page questionnaire will be provided with requested reports for; the number of permits issued, number of plan reviews performed, number of inspections reformed as well as Certifications of Plan Examiners and Inspectors. The City currently regulates to the 2012 ICC and will look to update if necessary.

Action Item 9: Incorporate Mitigation Concepts into Future Planning

DuPage County and its communities should incorporate hazard mitigation and climate change concepts into updated codes, ordinances, comprehensive plans, strategic initiatives, and capital improvement plans.

The City of Wheaton does take into account hazard mitigation and climate change concepts when codes, ordinances, comprehensive plans, strategic initiatives, and capital improvement plans are updated.  Examples, where this was put into practice, include: reducing impermeable surface by replacing concrete sidewalk with permeable pavers in the downtown area, replacement of lights to be LED fixtures, and the continued implementation of a strategic initiative to reduce infiltration by 40% into the City’s Sanitary Sewer System.

Action Item 10: Participate in Tree City USA

DuPage County communities should participate in the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program.

The City continues to be a participant in Tree City USA

Action Item 11: Participate in Community Rating System (CRS) Program

DuPage County communities should participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System.

The City of Wheaton began as a class 6 community May 1, 2018, and has continued to implement credible activities and applicable staff time to ensure it maintains its program status.

Action Item 12: Participate and Support Floodplain Management Studies

DuPage County and its communities should continue to support floodplain management studies, and review and update watershed plans.

City of Wheaton staff attends and participates in various watershed and floodplain meetings hosted by the County stormwater administrators

Revised 1/16/2019