Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) Annual Progress Report 2019/2020

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 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 broadened 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 did become a StormReady Program in 2019.

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 several of the monthly recommended IEMA preparedness topics this past year.

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 of Wheaton, Building and Code Enforcement Department, was evaluated in July 2019 by the Insurance Services Office (ISO) for its effectiveness based upon the Building Code Effectiveness Schedule and was subsequently issued a Class 9 due to the date of our adopted codes. The City of Wheaton currently adopted codes is the 2012 International Code Council series with local amendments.

The City of Wheaton is presently involved in the adoption process for the 2018 International Code Council series with local amendments which is anticipated to allow for re-grading by ISO to return to a Class 4. The final adoption with implementation is scheduled for February 2020.

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 on 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.