Taylor County,Iowa
Iowa
Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazard
PublicMitigation
Review DraftPlan
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Public Review Draft
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February 2022
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Taylor County Iowa Hazard Mitigation Plan
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
The purpose of hazard mitigation is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from
hazards. Taylor County and participating jurisdictions developed this multi-jurisdictional local hazard
mitigation plan update to reduce future losses to the County and its communities resulting from hazard
events. The plan was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and to
achieve eligibility for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance
Grant Programs.
The Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan covers the following jurisdictions that
participated in the planning process:
• Unincorporated Taylor County
• City of Bedford
• City of Blockton
• City of Clearfield
• City of Conway
• City of Gravity
• City of Lenox
City of New Market*
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•
• City of Sharpsburg
• Bedford Community School District
Lenox Community School District
•
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*New Participant in 2021
Taylor County and the incorporated areas that participated in this plan update developed a Multi-
Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan that was previously approved by FEMA in 2016. A planning effort in
2021 serves to update the previous plan to make it effective for implementation during 2022-2027.
The plan update process followed a methodology prescribed by FEMA, which began with the formation of
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a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) comprised of representatives from Taylor County,
participating jurisdictions, and stakeholders. The HMPC updated the risk assessment that identified and
profiled hazards that pose a risk to the Taylor County planning area, assessed the vulnerability to these
hazards, and examined the capabilities in place to mitigate them. The planning area is vulnerable to
several hazards that are identified, profiled, and analyzed in this plan.
Based upon the risk assessment, the HMPC updated goals for reducing risk from hazards. The goals are
listed below:
• Goal 1: Reduce the extent of fatalities and injuries due to hazards.
• Goal 2: Ensure the continuity of local government and business.
• Goal 3: Improve coordination and communication with other relevant organizations.
• Goal 4: Reduce damages to existing and future development.
To meet the identified goals, the recommended mitigation action details are in Chapter 4. The HMPC
developed an implementation plan for each action, which identifies priority level, background information,
ideas for implementation, responsible agency, timeline, cost estimate, potential funding sources, and
more.
Prerequisites
The local Hazard Mitigation Plan shall include documentation that the plan has been formally adopted
by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan. For multi-jurisdictional plans,
each jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan must document that it has been formally adopted
The following jurisdictions participated in the development of this plan and have adopted the multi-
jurisdictional plan. Resolutions of Adoptions are included in Appendix C.
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•
• City of New Market
• City of Sharpsburg
Bedford Community School District
•
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• Lenox Community School District
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... i
Prerequisites .......................................................................................................................................................................... ii
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................... iii
List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................................................... iv
List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................................................... vii
List of Appendices ............................................................................................................................................................ viii
1 Introduction and Planning Process .......................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 Purpose .............................................................................................................................................................. 1-1
1.2 Background and Scope ................................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.3 Plan Organization........................................................................................................................................... 1-2
1.4 Planning Process ............................................................................................................................................ 1-2
1.4.1 Multi-Jurisdictional Participation ............................................................................................ 1-3
1.4.2 The Planning Steps ....................................................................................................................... 1-5
2 Planning Area Profile and Capabilities ................................................................................................................... 2-1
2.1 Taylor County Planning Area Profile ...................................................................................................... 2-1
2.1.1 Location ............................................................................................................................................. 2-1
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2.1.2 Geography and Topography..................................................................................................... 2-3
2.1.3 History ................................................................................................................................................ 2-4
2.1.4 Climate ............................................................................................................................................... 2-4
2.1.5
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Population and Demographics ................................................................................................ 2-5
2.1.6 Occupations ................................................................................................................................... 2-25
2.1.7 Agriculture ...................................................................................................................................... 2-25
2.1.8 Taylor County Transportation Systems ............................................................................... 2-26
2.1.9 Emergency Services of Taylor County ................................................................................. 2-26
2.1.10 Medical Care .................................................................................................................................. 2-28
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3.5.15 Severe Winter Storm ............................................................................................................... 3-142
3.5.16 Sinkholes ...................................................................................................................................... 3-150
3.5.17 Terrorism ...................................................................................................................................... 3-153
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3.5.18 Thunderstorm with Lightning and Hail ............................................................................ 3-158
3.5.19 Tornado/Windstorm ................................................................................................................ 3-165
3.5.20 Transportation Incident.......................................................................................................... 3-182
3.6 Hazard Analysis Summary ..................................................................................................................... 3-191
4 Mitigation Strategy ........................................................................................................................................................ 4-1
4.1 Goals.................................................................................................................................................................... 4-1
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List of Tables
Table 1-1 Jurisdictional Participation in Planning Process ................................................................................. 1-4
Table 1-2 Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee ............................................................................................... 1-4
Table 1-3 Mitigation Planning Process Used to Develop the Taylor County Multi-jurisdictional Local
Hazard Mitigation Plan ................................................................................................................................................................. 1-6
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Table 2-16 City of Conway Demographics and Social Characteristics .......................................................... 2-13
Table 2-17 Conway Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State .. 2-14
Table 2-18 Types and Total Amounts of Housing Units in Conway ............................................................... 2-15
Table 2-19
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City of Gravity Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019 ...................................... 2-16
Table 2-20 Gravity Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State .... 2-17
Table 2-21 Type and Total Amounts of Housing Units in Gravity ................................................................... 2-18
Table 2-22 City of Lenox Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019 ........................................ 2-18
Table 2-23 Lenox Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State ...... 2-19
Table 2-24 Types and Total Amounts of Housing Units in Lenox ................................................................... 2-20
Table 2-25 City of New Market Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019............................ 2-20
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Table 2-26 New Market Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State...
............................................................................................................................................................................. 2-21
Table 2-27 Types and Total Amounts of Housing Units in New Market ...................................................... 2-22
Table 2-28 City of Sharpsburg Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019 ............................. 2-23
Table 2-29 Sharpsburg Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State ...
............................................................................................................................................................................. 2-24
Table 2-30 Types and Total Amounts of Housing in Sharpsburg.................................................................... 2-25
Table 2-31 Occupation Statistics, Taylor County, Iowa ........................................................................................ 2-25
Table 2-32 Mileage of Roadways in Taylor County, by Type ............................................................................ 2-26
Table 2-33 Mitigation Capabilities for Taylor County and Incorporated Cities ......................................... 2-38
Table 2-34 Additional Jurisdictional Capabilities ................................................................................................... 2-45
Table 2-35 Taylor County School District Enrollment Data, 2020-2021........................................................ 2-48
Table 2-36 Summary of Mitigation Capabilities, Taylor County Public School Districts ........................ 2-48
Table 2-37 FEMA HMA Grants in Taylor County from 2008-2015 .................................................................. 2-49
Table 3-1 Hazard Comparison Chart .......................................................................................................................... 3-3
Table 3-2 FEMA Disaster Declarations that included Taylor County, Iowa, 1953-2021 ......................... 3-4
Table 3-3 USDA Secretarial Disaster Declarations Including Taylor Co. (2012-2020) ............................. 3-4
Table 3-4 Hazards Identified for Each Jurisdiction ................................................................................................ 3-6
Table 3-5 Hazard Score Element Definitions and Rating Scales ...................................................................... 3-7
Table 3-6 Taylor County Planning Area Hazard Ranking Results .................................................................... 3-8
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Table 3-25 National Weather Service Flash Flooding Products ....................................................................... 3-89
Table 3-26 Flood-Related National Weather Service Watches and, Warnings Issued for Taylor County
and, Taylor County, Iowa Forecast Zone (2007 to August 2021) ............................................................................... 3-89
Table 3-27
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Top 20 Rainfall Events, Bedford Weather Station, 1950 to 2021 .............................................. 3-90
Table 3-28 NCEI Taylor County, Iowa Flood Events Summary, 1993-2021.................................................. 3-91
Table 3-29 Improved Properties at Risk to 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard ........................................... 3-95
Table 3-30 Improved Properties at Risk to 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard ........................................ 3-95
Table 3-31 Crop Insurance Claims Paid in Taylor County for Crop Loss as a result of Excess
Moisture/Precipitation/Rain and Flood (2006-2021) ...................................................................................................... 3-96
Table 3-32 Critical Facilities Within the 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area ....................................... 3-96
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Table 3-33 Critical Facilities Within the 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area .................................... 3-97
Table 3-34 Number of Tier II Facilities and EHS Facilities by Jurisdiction ................................................. 3-107
Table 3-35 Taylor County Hazardous Materials Spills, 1990-2019, by Material Type .......................... 3-111
Table 3-36 Common Foodborne Diseases ............................................................................................................ 3-116
Table 3-37 Deaths by Year 2005-2020, Influenza and Pneumonia and Infective and Parasitic Disease ...
.......................................................................................................................................................................... 3-118
Table 3-38 Iowa Common Reportable Diseases by Year in Taylor County............................................... 3-118
Table 3-39 2020 Vaccination Coverage Percent of Individual Vaccines and Selected Vaccination Series
in Taylor County (2-year-old coverage and 13–15-year-old coverage) ............................................................... 3-120
Table 3-40 FEMA Standard Values for Loss of Service for Utilities and Roads/Bridges ...................... 3-129
Table 3-41 NWS Issuances for Winter Weather in Taylor County, Iowa, 2005-June 2021 ................. 3-144
Table 3-42 Loss of Use Estimates for Power Failure (10% of Population for One Day) ....................... 3-147
Table 3-43 USDA Crop Indemnity Payments due to Winter Storm in Taylor County, 2007-2020 .. 3-148
Table 3-44 Tornado and Storm Research Organization Hailstorm Intensity Scale................................ 3-159
Table 3-45 Historical Occurrence of Lightning and Hail in Taylor County ................................................ 3-161
Table 3-46 Recorded Tornadoes in Taylor County, 1954 - 2017 .................................................................. 3-167
Table 3-47 Reported Wind Speeds, NCEI Events from 1956-2020 .............................................................. 3-171
Table 3-48 Crop Insurance Claims Paid in Taylor County from Tornadoes and Windstorms, 2007-2020
.......................................................................................................................................................................... 3-173
Table 3-49 Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage ........................................................................................... 3-176
List of Figures
Figure 1-1 Survey Results – Hazard Level of Significance .................................................................................... 1-8
Figure 1-2 Survey Results – Types of Projects .......................................................................................................... 1-9
Figure 2-1 Taylor County Planning Area ..................................................................................................................... 2-2
Figure 2-2 Taylor County Major Waterways and Watersheds Map ................................................................. 2-3
Figure 2-3 Bedford, Iowa Average Annual Temperatures, 1950-2021............................................................ 2-5
Figure 2-4 Bedford, Iowa Average Annual Precipitation (in), 1950-2021 ...................................................... 2-5
Figure 2-5 Emergency Facilities Map ......................................................................................................................... 2-28
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Figure 2-6 Public and Emergency Communications Facilities Map ............................................................... 2-30
Figure 2-7 Southwest Regional Water District Service Area ............................................................................. 2-32
Figure 2-8 Taylor County SIRWA Water Facilities Map ....................................................................................... 2-33
Figure 2-9
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Sewer Facilities Map .................................................................................................................................... 2-34
Figure 2-10 Electrical Power Facilities Map ................................................................................................................ 2-35
Figure 2-11 Pipeline and Natural Gas Facilities Map .............................................................................................. 2-36
Figure 2-12 Taylor County, Iowa Public School Districts ...................................................................................... 2-47
Figure 3-1 FEMA Lifeline Categories .......................................................................................................................... 3-13
Figure 3-2 Taylor County Critical Facilities ............................................................................................................... 3-15
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Figure 3-40 Wind Chill Chart ......................................................................................................................................... 3-143
Figure 3-41 Average Number of Hours per Year with Freezing Rain ........................................................... 3-144
Figure 3-42 Historic Mining Areas in Taylor County ........................................................................................... 3-150
Figure 3-43
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Terrorist Attacks in the U.S. 1970-2018 ............................................................................................ 3-155
Figure 3-44 Domestic Terrorist Attacks in the U.S. 1994-2021 ....................................................................... 3-155
Figure 3-45 Distribution and Frequency of Thunderstorms ............................................................................. 3-160
Figure 3-46 Location and Frequency of Lightning in Iowa ............................................................................... 3-160
Figure 3-47 Tornado Activity in the United States ............................................................................................... 3-166
Figure 3-48 Wind Zones in the United States ........................................................................................................ 3-167
Figure 3-49 Tornado Paths in Taylor County, 1950-2019.................................................................................. 3-169
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List of Appendices
Appendix A: References
Appendix B: Planning Process Documentation
Appendix C: Records of Adoption
1.1 Purpose
Taylor County and its participating cities and public school districts prepared this Multi-Jurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan update to guide hazard mitigation planning to better protect the people and
property of the planning area from the effects of hazard events.
This plan demonstrates the jurisdictions’ commitments to reducing risks from hazards and serves as a tool
to help decision makers direct mitigation activities and resources. This plan was also developed to make
Taylor County and the participating jurisdictions eligible for certain federal grant programs, specifically the
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program,
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program.
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additional expenses to insurance companies and nongovernmental organizations are not reimbursed by
tax dollars. Many disasters are predictable, and much of the damage caused by these events can be
alleviated or even eliminated.
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Hazard mitigation is defined by FEMA as “any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk
to human life and property from a hazard event.” The results of a three-year, congressionally mandated
independent study to assess future savings from mitigation activities provides evidence that mitigation
activities are highly cost-effective. On average, each dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of
$6 in avoided future losses in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries (Natural Hazard Mitigation
Saves: 2019 Report).
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Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards that threaten communities are
identified, likely impacts of those hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate
strategies to lessen impacts are determined, prioritized, and implemented. Taylor County and the
participating incorporated cities and public school districts that participated in this plan update developed
a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan that was approved by FEMA in October 2016 (hereafter
referred to as the 2016 Taylor County Hazard Mitigation Plan). Therefore, this current planning effort
serves to update the previous plan.
This plan documents the hazard mitigation planning process undertaken by the Taylor County HMPC. It
identifies relevant hazards and vulnerabilities in the planning area and sets forth an updated mitigation
strategy to decrease vulnerability and increase resiliency and sustainability in Taylor County.
The Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is a multi-jurisdictional plan that
geographically covers the participating jurisdictions within Taylor County’s boundaries (hereinafter
referred to as the planning area). The following jurisdictions officially participated in the planning process:
• Unincorporated Taylor County
• City of Bedford
• City of Blockton
• City of Clearfield
• City of Conway
• City of Gravity
• City of Lenox
• City of New Market
• City of Sharpsburg
• Bedford Community School District
• Lenox Community School District
For the 2021-2022 update, the City of New Market participated as a new jurisdiction in the plan update
process.
This plan was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law
106-390) and the implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal
Register on February 26, 2002, (44 CFR §201.6) and finalized on October 31, 2007. Hereafter, these
requirements and regulations will be referred to collectively as the Disaster Mitigation Act. While the act
emphasized the need for mitigation plans and more coordinated mitigation planning and implementation
efforts, the regulations established the requirements that local hazard mitigation plans must meet in order
for a local jurisdiction to be eligible for certain federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding
under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act (Public Law 93-288).
Information in this plan will be used to help guide and coordinate mitigation activities and decisions for
local land use policy in the future. Proactive mitigation planning will help reduce the cost of disaster
response and recovery to communities and their residents by protecting critical community facilities,
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reducing liability exposure, and minimizing overall community impacts and disruptions. The Taylor County
planning area has been affected by hazards in the past and the participating jurisdictions are therefore
committed to reducing future impacts from hazard events and remaining eligible for mitigation-related
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federal funding.
This is the same general format that was used for the 2016 Multi-Jurisdictional Taylor County Hazard
Mitigation Plan.
[The plan shall document] the planning process used to develop the plan, including how it was
prepared, who was involved in the process, and how the public was involved.
This plan update was collaboratively prepared between May 2021-January 2022 by Taylor County and the
participating jurisdictions and stakeholders collectively known as the HMPC. Professional planning
assistance was provided by Wood Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. (Wood) through a contract held with
Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division. Wood’s role was to:
• Assist in establishing the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team (HMPT) as defined by the Disaster
Mitigation Act (DMA),
• Ensure the updated plan meets the DMA requirements as established by federal regulations and
following FEMA’s planning guidance,
• Facilitate the entire planning process,
• Identify the data requirements that HMPT participants could provide and conduct the research and
documentation necessary to augment that data,
• Assist in facilitating the public input process,
• Produce the draft and final plan update documents, and
• Coordinate the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and FEMA plan
reviews.
1.4.1 Multi-Jurisdictional Participation
Multi-jurisdictional plans may be accepted, as appropriate, as long as each jurisdiction has participated
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in the process and has officially adopted the plan.
Taylor County invited the incorporated cities, public school districts, and various other stakeholders in
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mitigation planning (identified in Appendix B) to participate in the Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan update process. The jurisdictions that elected to participate in this plan are listed
above in Section 1.2. These are the same jurisdictions that participated in the 2016 Plan update, with the
addition of the City of New Market. The DMA requires that each jurisdiction that participates in the
planning process must officially adopt the multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan. Each jurisdiction
that chose to participate in the planning process and development of the plan was required to meet plan
participation requirements defined at the first planning meeting, which includes the following:
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All the jurisdictions listed as official participants in this plan met all these participation requirements.
Coordination during the planning process occurred through a combination of emails, in-person and
webinar meetings, and individual meetings/discussions/emails with the County Emergency Management
Deputy Coordinator as the lead planner/coordinator. Table 1-1 shows the representation of each
participating jurisdiction at the planning meetings, provision of Data Collection Guides, and
update/development of mitigation actions. Sign-in sheets are included in Appendix B: Planning Process
Documentation.
Taylor County X X X X
City of Bedford X X
City of Blockton X X X
City of Clearfield X X
City of Conway X X X
City of Gravity X X
City of Lennox X X
City of New Market X
City of Sharpsburg X X X
Bedford Community X X
School District
Lenox Community X X
School District
The following table lists the members of the HMPC including the jurisdiction, organization, and title.
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Table 1-2 Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
Jurisdiction
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Emergency Management Mick Ware
Coordinator
Emergency Management
Emergency Management Belinda Ogle
Deputy Coordinator
Supervisor Ron Fitzgerald
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School District
Lenox Community
School Administration Superintendent David Henrichs
School District
1.4.2
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The Planning Steps
Wood and Taylor County worked together to establish the framework and process for this planning effort
using FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (March 2013). The plan update was completed utilizing
the 9-task approach within a broad four-phase process:
1. Organize resources,
2. Assess risks,
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Table 1-3 Mitigation Planning Process Used to Develop the Taylor County Multi-jurisdictional
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Phase CRS Planning Steps (Activity 510) Local Mitigation Planning Handbook Tasks (44 CFR
Part 201)
Phase I Step 1. Organize Task 1: Determine the Planning Area and Resources
Task 2: Build the Planning Team 44 CFR 201.6(c)(1)
Step 2. Involve the public Task 3: Create an Outreach Strategy y 44 CFR 201.6(b)(1)
Step 3. Coordinate Task 4: Review Community Capabilities 44 CFR 201.6(b)(2)
& (3)
Phase II Step 4. Assess the hazard Task 5: Conduct a Risk Assessment 44 CFR 201.6(c)(2)(i) 44
CFR 201.6(c)(2)(ii) & (iii)
Step 5. Assess the problem
Phase III Step 6. Set goals Task 6: Develop a Mitigation Strategy 44 CFR 201.6(c)(3)(i);
44 CFR 201.6(c)(3)(ii); and 44 CFR 201.6(c)(3)(iii)
Step 7. Review possible activities
Step 8. Draft an action plan
Phase IV Step 9. Adopt the plan Task 8: Review and Adopt the Plan
Step 10. Implement, evaluate, Task 7: Keep the Plan Current
revise Task 9: Create a Safe and Resilient Community 44 CFR
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201.6(c)(4)
included in the plan update, discuss options for the flood risk assessment methodology, develop an initial
public participation strategy, and discuss the plan update format. Detailed meeting minutes are included
in Appendix B.
The 2016 HMPC list that formed the basis for the previous plan update, and interim annual
implementation meetings includes representatives from each participating jurisdiction. This list was
reviewed and updated to form the basis for the 2021 HMPC. Other regional, local, state, and federal
stakeholder organizations were also invited. Stakeholders are listed in Step 3: Coordinate with Other
Departments and Agencies.
After the initial coordination meeting, a formal kickoff planning meeting was held on June 9, 2021,
followed by two additional planning meetings held on August 24, 2021, and October 12, 2021.
The HMPC communicated during the planning process with a combination of face-to-face meetings,
webinars, phone interviews, and email correspondence. The planning effort coincided with the 2020-2022
Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; thus, some meetings were facilitated via a webinar, with a small
number of representatives from Taylor County meeting in-person. The meeting schedule and topics are
listed in Table 1-4. The meeting minutes for each of the meetings are included in Appendix B.
Planning Meeting #2 Presentation of draft risk assessment including August 24, 2021
Webinar vulnerability and critical facility analysis;
development of plan goals.
Planning Meeting #3 – Results of public survey; mitigation action October 12, 2021
Webinar update, development, and prioritization; plan
maintenance; next steps in HMPC plan review
and final public comment period.
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During the kickoff meeting, Wood presented information on the scope and purpose of the plan,
participation requirements of HMPC members, and the proposed project work plan and schedule. Plans
for public involvement (Step 2) and coordination with other agencies and departments (Step 3) were
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discussed. Wood also introduced hazard identification requirements and data needs. The HMPC discussed
potential hazards as well as past events and impacts and refined the identified hazards to be relevant to
Taylor County.
Participants were given a Plan Update Guide by Wood to facilitate the collection of information needed to
support the plan, such as data on historic hazard events, values at risk, and current capabilities. Each
participating jurisdiction completed and returned the worksheets in the Plan Update Guide to Wood.
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Wood integrated this information into the plan, supporting the update of Chapters 2 and 3.
Step 2: Plan for Public Involvement (Handbook Task 3)
An open public involvement process is essential to the development of an effective plan. In order to develop a more
comprehensive approach to reducing the effects of natural disasters, the planning process shall include: (1) An
opportunity for the public to comment on the plan during the drafting stage and prior to plan approval.
At the kickoff meeting, the HMPC discussed options for soliciting public input on the mitigation plan. To
provide an opportunity for the public to comment during the drafting stage, the committee determined
that the most effective method would be dissemination of a survey.
A survey was developed specific to the Taylor County Mitigation Plan that provided a brief plan summary
as well as a questionnaire to capture public and stakeholder input. The results of the online survey are
provided in Appendix B. A press release was posted to the Taylor County’s website as well as each
participating jurisdiction’s website and social media (Facebook and Twitter) pages announced the opening
of the online survey. The survey was available to the public from June 24th to July 31st, 2021.
In all, 56 surveys were completed. Responses reflect the public perception that the most significant
hazards are severe winter storm, thunderstorm/lightning/hail, tornado, windstorm, and extreme heat.
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In the survey, the public was also asked to review 23 types of mitigation actions. The Taylor County HMPC
also considered these types of actions/projects in the Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan. The survey asked the public to place a check next to the mitigation project types that they felt could
benefit their community. Figure 1-2 provides the compiled results of this question. The public opinion is
that generators for critical facilities, public health incident preparedness, and improved reliability of
communications systems would benefit their jurisdictions the most.
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The public was also asked to comment on any other issues that the Taylor County HMPC should consider
in developing a strategy to reduce future losses caused by natural hazard events. Some of the comments
provided by the public are included below:
• “Active participation from all levels of local government to visit preparedness planning at a minimum
annually.”
• “With Covid-19, I think the role of county public health offices should be considered as top priority for
counties and more funding should be allocated for them. Many counties do not have adequate
facilities so they can operate in case of a disaster. Covid-19 has proven that our county does not have
the space, manpower, and equipment needed even though they have operated efficiently and served
the community.”
• “Some actions to consider may be burying power lines where possible and implementing building
code regulations in each city to make homes more resilient.”
• “Coordination of EMS departments within the county and surrounding counties. Fire, police,
ambulance, hospitals, and emergency facilities, and emergency shelters. Including what happens
when we lose communication capabilities during the disaster. Pre-disaster drills need to take place.”
The public was also given an opportunity to provide input on a draft of the complete plan prior to its
submittal to the State and FEMA. The entire plan draft was made available on the County’s website as a
PDF document. An online comment form was posted to collect input.
Taylor County announced the availability of the entire final draft plan and the two-week final public
comment period in the X and a variety of social media platforms including X. A copy of the
announcement is provided in Appendix B. The final public comment period was from February 25-March
11, 2022. There were X public comments received. Comments received shared with the HMPC for
consideration. Public comment resulted in (TBD).
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The HMPC invited other targeted stakeholders and neighboring jurisdictions to comment on the draft
plan via an email letter, which is described in greater detail in Step 3: Coordinate with Other Departments
and Agencies. There were no stakeholder comments received from the agencies which were invited to
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review the plan.
Step 3: Coordinate with Other Departments and Agencies and Incorporate Existing Information
(Handbook Task 3)
An open public involvement process is essential to the development of an effective plan. In order to develop a more
comprehensive approach to reducing the effects of natural disasters, the planning process shall include: (2) An
opportunity for neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities, and
agencies that have the authority to regulate development, as well as businesses, academia and other private and
nonprofit interests to be involved in the planning process. (3) Review and incorporation, if appropriate, of existing
plans, studies, reports, and technical information.
There are organizations whose goals and interests’ interface with hazard mitigation in Taylor County.
Taylor County invited neighboring counties, other local, regional, state, federal departments and agencies
to learn about the hazard mitigation planning initiative. The HMPC developed a list of additional
stakeholders involved in hazard mitigation activities, or the authority to regulate development, to invite by
email to review and comment on the draft of the Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan prior to submittal to the State and FEMA. Some of these agencies were consulted for data and
information during the plan update. Those agencies were invited to comment on the plan draft and
included emergency management officials of adjacent counties. Academic institutions include the
participating school districts noted previously.
Stakeholders
• State of Iowa – Department of Natural Resources/Dam Safety
• State of Iowa – Department of Natural Resources/Floodplain Management
• State of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department
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• Iowa Hazard Mitigation Plan (June 2018);
• Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (2016);
• FEMA;
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• FEMA Community Information System, National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Repetitive Loss
Property Data;
• Dam Inventory and Inspection Reports for Taylor County, Iowa Department of Natural Resources;
• National Drought Mitigation Center Drought Impact Reporter;
• U.S. Drought Monitor;
• Plan Update Guides completed by each jurisdiction;
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well as additional sources of information are documented throughout the plan and in Appendix A,
References.
Integration of the 2016 Plan into Other Planning Mechanisms
The 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan was incorporated into or cross referenced with other planning
mechanisms between 2016-2021, such as the County’s and some municipal Emergency Operations Plans
(Bedford, Clearfield, and Lenox) and the City of Lenox Comprehensive Plan which was updated in 2020.
More specifics on the previous plan’s integration and strategies and opportunities to do so in the future
are outlined in Chapter 5.
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During the risk assessment meeting, the HMPC refined the list of hazards to make the analysis relevant to
Taylor County, discussed past events and impacts and came to consensus on the preliminary probability,
magnitude, warning time, and duration levels on a countywide basis to contribute to the hazard ranking
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methodology utilized by the State. In addition, each jurisdiction completed either a local or school district
Plan Update Guide, including information on previous hazard events in their community. Utilizing the
information from the Plan Update Guides as well as existing plans, studies, reports, and technical
information as well as information available through internet research and GIS analysis, the profile for
each hazard identified was updated. More information on the methodology and resources used to
identify and profile the hazards can be found in Chapter 3.
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ongoing mitigation initiatives. This information is included in Chapter 2 Planning Area Profile and
Capabilities.
Specific capabilities such as participation in the NFIP as well as designation as Fire Wise Communities or
Storm Ready Communities and placement of storm sirens are incorporated in the vulnerability analysis
discussions, where applicable.
Taking into consideration the vulnerability and capability assessments, a variety of methods was used to
estimate losses for each profiled hazard. For geographic hazards such as river flooding, specific assets at
risk and loss estimates were determined through GIS analysis. For other hazards such as weather-related
hazards and hazardous materials, loss estimates were developed based on statistical analysis of historic
events. For hazards such as dam failure of state-regulated dams, GIS data was not available to identify
specific geographic boundaries at risk. Therefore, the risk assessment provides descriptions of the types of
improvements located in approximated risk areas downstream of high and significant hazard dams. For
some human-caused hazards and the tornado hazard, loss estimates were scenario-based. The
methodologies for each loss estimate are described in detail in Chapter 3. Within each hazard section, the
text provides details on how the hazard varies by jurisdiction, where applicable. In addition, at the
conclusion of each hazard section, a summary table indicates the specific probability, magnitude, warning
time, and duration rating of the hazard for each jurisdiction is provided to show how the hazard varies.
Where applicable, introductory text preceding the table highlights noted variables.
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Results of the preliminary risk assessment were presented at Meeting #2 to inform the planning process
as the basis for updating the mitigation strategy.
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Phase 3 Develop the Mitigation Plan (Handbook Task 6)
Step 6: Set Goals
Wood facilitated a discussion session with the HMPC during Meeting #3 to review and update goals.
Common categories of mitigation goals were presented as well as the 2018 State Hazard Mitigation Plan
goals.
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This planning effort is an update to an existing hazard mitigation plan. During this process, the four goals
from the 2016 Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan were reviewed. The goals as
proposed for the 2022 plan update can be found in Section 4.1.
Step 7: Review Possible Activities
The focus of Meeting #3 was to update the mitigation strategy. To consider a comprehensive range of
alternatives, the HMPC reviewed all actions from the 2016 Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard
Mitigation Plan as well as the following: key issues for each of the top 10 hazards identified in the updated
risk assessment, State priorities for HMA grants, public opinion from surveys, and FEMA’s January 2013
publication Mitigation Ideas. Committee members discussed issues such as: availability of funds,
prioritization of actions, and feasibility of implementation utilizing the STAPLEE methodology as a guide.
As part of this discussion, consideration was given to the potential cost of each project in relation to the
anticipated future cost savings.
Jurisdictions were encouraged to maintain a focused approach and continue forward only those actions
that are aimed at implementing long-term solutions to prevent losses from hazards. To facilitate the
update of previous actions, a Word document was provided listing all previous actions submitted by each
jurisdiction. The jurisdictions were provided instructions for completing the status of each of the 72
previous actions as well as the details to provide for continuing and newly developed actions. A modified
form of the STAPLEE prioritization method was provided to assist jurisdictions in determining the
prioritization that should be assigned to each new action. Each participating jurisdiction prioritized the
new actions they submitted by indicating high, moderate, or low local priority. The completed worksheets
with action details were returned to Wood. Chapter 4 provides additional details regarding the process
undertaken to refine the mitigation strategy to make Taylor County and its jurisdictions more disaster
resistant as well as the continuing and new actions submitted as the mitigation strategy for this plan
update. The completed and deleted actions have been separated out in Chapter 4. The number of
completed actions have been summarized as a measure of progress toward the overall goals of the plan.
Step 8: Draft an Action Plan
A complete draft of the plan was made available to the HMPC for review. Following that review a second
draft was posted online and in hard copy for review and comment by the public, other agencies and
interested stakeholders. Methods for inviting interested parties and the public to review and comment on
the plan were discussed in Steps 2 and 3, and materials are provided in Appendix B. A final plan was then
created for submittal to the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department and FEMA
for review and approval per the DMA requirements.
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Step 10: Implement, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan (Handbook Tasks 7 & 9)
The HMPC developed and agreed upon an overall strategy for plan implementation and for monitoring
and maintaining the plan over time during Meeting #3. This updated strategy is described in Chapter 5,
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Plan Maintenance Process. This process was generally followed and proved effective in the 2016-2021
timeframe, though annual meetings were not consistently held. The only change in implementation
process during the 2021 update was a recommendation that during the third interim annual meeting that
the HMPC outline necessary steps to begin the next plan update process so that the effort can be
completed during year four and five, to allow time for completion, approval, and re-adoption within the
five-year time frame so there is not a lapse in the plan, which could jeopardize grant funding.
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This chapter provides a general profile of Taylor County, followed by individual sections for each
participating jurisdiction. The sections for each jurisdiction provide an overview profile as well as details
on existing capabilities, plans, and programs that enhance their ability to implement mitigation strategies.
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Upper Grand (see Figure 2-2).
Topography: Taylor County is nearly devoid of unique, fragile or hazardous landforms or landform
regions. The County does not have significant outcroppings, limestone bluffs, or erosion areas.
Soils: The table below documents more information regarding four general soil associations that
characterize Taylor County.
Wetlands: Wetlands, mostly small, exist on numerous private and public lands in the county. The US Army
Corps of Engineers evaluates proposed construction activities in wetlands through the Section 404
permitting process when issues arise. No wetland-related issues are known in the county.
2.1.3 History
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The area that became Taylor County was ceded by the United States Government in 1842, and the
organization of the county began during this decade. In 1851 the General Assembly of Iowa established
the borders of Taylor County– named in honor of General Zachary Taylor, the then recently deceased
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President of the United States. The first settlers of the county were primarily farmers and businessmen
who founded the first cities in the County in the 1860’s and 1870’s. Early in its development, Taylor County
was home to two railroad lines, which supported local industries such as mining and the commercial
trades and spurred the county’s rapid growth. The population of Taylor County peaked in 1900 with
18,784 persons living within its borders. Since this time, the county has experienced declining population,
with an increasing share of that population located in the cities. In 1900 the incorporated communities in
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Taylor County only accounted for approximately 30% of the total population, while by the year 2000 that
figure had risen to almost 60%. Many of these factors can be attributed to the decline in the agricultural
sector and the rapid growth of large population centers– issues that have greatly affected all of rural Iowa.
Today, few large industries exist in Taylor County and the local economy continues to be driven by small
businesses and agriculture.
2.1.4 Climate
Taylor County, like the entire state of Iowa is within the humid continental zone. The mean annual
temperature of the County is 51 °F, with an average summer temperature of 74 °F and a winter average of
27 °F. Temperatures can fluctuate greatly beyond these averages, with a record high of 107 °F and a
record low of -34 °F recorded in the County. Seasons fluctuate from being very wet to very dry, and
temperatures can fluctuate greatly in spring and autumn months. Average annual precipitation is
approximately 36.6 inches. Figure 2-3 and Figure 2-4 below provide the average annual temperature
ranges and precipitation each month for Bedford, Iowa from 1950 to 2021.
Taylor County frequently experiences severe weather events throughout all seasons. In the winter, the
county experiences severe winter storms, while the spring and summer months can bring severe
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thunderstorms, hail, lightning, and tornadoes. In the summer, extremely high temperatures prove to be
dangerous while more storms and early snow can affect the county in the fall.
Figure 2-4
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Bedford, Iowa Average Annual Precipitation (in), 1950-2021
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Unincorporated Taylor County population was estimated by subtracting populations of incorporated cities from the total Taylor County populations.
According to the 2019 population estimates, 5.5 percent of the population is under age 5 and 22 percent
of the population is over age 65 in Taylor County. There were 2,316 households with an average
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household size of 2.32 people. Table 2-3 provides additional demographic and economic indicators for
Taylor County. Table 2-4 provides the same information in comparison to the rest of the State of Iowa and
the country as a whole. The Taylor County values are for all the County, including the incorporated cities.
These details are also included for each incorporated city in Section 2.2.
Table 2-4 Taylor County Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the State and
Nation, 2015-2019
Demographic & Social Characteristics (as of 2019) Taylor County Iowa U.S.
Median Age 42.3 38.2 38.1
% of Population under 5 5.5% 6% 6%
% of Population 65 & over 22.0% 17.5% 17%
Housing Occupancy Rate 84.3% 90.7% 87.8%
% of Owner Occupied Housing 78.2% 71% 64.1%
% of Renter Occupied Housing 21.8% 29.5% 35.9%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available 4.6% 6.1% 8.7%
Median Household Income $50,431 $60,523 $62,843
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Per Capita Income $29,778 $32,176 $34,103
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level 10.0% 7.3% 14.1%
Average Household Size 2.32 2.4 2.6
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% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma 38.5% 92.6% 87.7%
% of Population Over 25 with Bachelor’s Degree or 14.5% 29.3% 31.5%
Higher
% with Disability 15.3% 11.8% 12.6%
% Speak English less than "Very Well" 4.1% 3.6% 8.5%
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Table 2-5 presents race and gender composition of Taylor County. The county is almost equally
comprised of males and females, with males having a slightly larger population (50.8%) than females
(49.2%). The majority of the population identifies as White (not Hispanic) (94.6%), while the Hispanic or
Latino race makes up the second largest percentage in the county at 7.7%. The Black and Native Hawaiian
and other Pacific Islander races have the lowest populations present in the county.
Table 2-6 Types and Total Amounts of Housing Units in Taylor County
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20 or More Units 53 1.7%
Mobile Home 175 5.6%
Boat, RV, Van, etc. 0 0.0%
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
Table 2-8 City of Bedford Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County
Demographic & Social Characteristics (as of 2019) City of Bedford County Iowa
Median Age 39.2 42.3 38.2
% of Population under 5 6.9% 5.5% 6%
% of Population 65 & over 23.7% 22.0% 17.5%
Housing Occupancy Rate 82.3% 84.3% 90.7%
% of Owner Occupied Housing 74.4% 78.2% 71%
% of Renter Occupied Housing 25.6% 21.8% 29.5%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available 3.5% 4.6% 6.1%
Median Household Income $48,077 $50,431 $60,523
Per Capita Income $25,091 $29,778 $32,176
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level 13.8% 10.0% 7.3%
Average Household Size 2.33 2.32 2.4
% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma 40.9% 38.5% 92.6%
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% of Population Over 25 with bachelor’s degree or Higher 12.1% 14.5% 29.3%
% with Disability 13.4% 15.3% 11.8%
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% Speak English less than "Very Well" 0.0% 4.1% 3.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
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% of Population Over 25 45.5% 40.8% -10.3%
with High School Diploma
% of Population Over 25 13.6% 3.9% -71.3%
with Bachelor’s Degree or
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Higher
% with Disability 17.1% 36.1% 111.1%
% Speak English less than 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
"Very Well"
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
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Table 2-11 City of Blockton Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County
and State
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Type of housing Total %
units
Total housing units
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1-unit detached 100 79.4%
1-unit attached 1 0.8%
2 units 0 0.0%
3 or 4 units 22 17.5%
5 to 9 units 0 0.0%
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10 to 19 units 0 0.0%
20 or more units 0 0.0%
Mobile home 3 2.4%
Boat, RV, van, etc. 0 0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
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Diploma
% of Population Over 8.0% 17.6% 120.0%
25 with Bachelor’s
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Degree or Higher
% with Disability 25.9% 13.8% -46.7%
% Speak English less 1.9% 0.0% -100.0%
than "Very Well"
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
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Table 2-14 City of Clearfield Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County
and State
Demographic &
City of
Social Characteristics County Iowa
Clearfield
(as of 2019)
Median Age 37.6 42.3 38.2
% of Population under 7.3% 5.5% 6%
5
% of Population 65 & 22.5% 22.0% 17.5%
over
Housing Occupancy 77.1% 84.3% 90.7%
Rate
% of Owner Occupied 84.0% 78.2% 71%
Housing
% of Renter Occupied 16.0% 21.8% 29.5%
Housing
% of Housing Units 1.5% 4.6% 6.1%
with no Vehicles
Available
Demographic &
City of
Social Characteristics County Iowa
Clearfield
(as of 2019)
Median Household $44,792 $50,431 $60,523
Income
Per Capita Income $18,324 $29,778 $32,176
% of Individuals Below 15.7% 10.0% 7.3%
Poverty Level
Average Household 2.7 2.32 2.4
Size
% of Population Over 45.6% 38.5% 92.6%
25 with High School
Diploma
% of Population Over 17.6% 14.5% 29.3%
25 with bachelor’s
degree or Higher
% with Disability 13.8% 15.3% 11.8%
% Speak English less 0.0% 4.1% 3.6%
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than "Very Well"
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
Table 2-15
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Type and Total Amounts of Housing Units in Clearfield
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# of Households 8 15 87.5%
Average Household 2.75 2.07 -24.7%
Size
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% of Population 46.2% 43.5% -5.8%
Over 25 with High
School Diploma
% of Population 15.4% 0.0% -100.0%
Over 25 with
Bachelor’s Degree
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or Higher
% with Disability 9.1% 32.3% 254.9%
% Speak English 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
less than "Very
Well"
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
Table 2-17 Conway Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State
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Size
% of Population 46.2% 38.5% 92.6%
Over 25 with High
School Diploma
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% of Population 15.4% 14.5% 29.3%
Over 25 with
bachelor’s degree
or Higher
% with Disability 9.1% 15.3% 11.8%
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Type of Total %
housing
units
Total 12
housing
units
1-unit 11 91.7%
detached
1-unit 0 0.0%
attached
2 units 0 0.0%
3 or 4 units 0 0.0%
5 to 9 units 0 0.0%
Type of Total %
housing
units
10 to 19 0 0.0%
units
20 or more 0 0.0%
units
Mobile 1 8.3%
home
Boat, RV, 0 0.0%
van, etc.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
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Median Age 50.8 48.0 -5.5%
% of Population 2.1% 8.9% 323.8%
under 5
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% of Population 65 26.0% 23.3% -10.4%
& over
Housing Occupancy 82.9% 72.3% -12.8%
Rate
% of Owner 86.2% 85.3% -1.0%
Occupied Housing
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Table 2-20 Gravity Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State
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% of Owner Occupied 85.3% 78.2% 71%
Housing
% of Renter Occupied
AF 14.7% 21.8% 29.5%
Housing
% of Housing Units 4.4% 4.6% 6.1%
with no Vehicles
Available
Median Household $37,000 $50,431 $60,523
Income
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Table 2-22 City of Lenox Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019
Table 2-23 Lenox Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and State
Demographic &
Social City of
County Iowa
Characteristics (as of Lenox
2019)
Median Age 40.8 42.3 38.2
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% of Population
3.5% 5.5% 6%
under 5
% of Population 65 &
over
AF 22.3% 22.0% 17.5%
Housing Occupancy
88.0% 84.3% 90.7%
Rate
% of Owner Occupied
61.5% 78.2% 71%
Housing
% of Renter Occupied
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Demographic &
Social City of
County Iowa
Characteristics (as of Lenox
2019)
% Speak English less
16.6% 4.1% 3.6%
than "Very Well"
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
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10 to 19 units 5 0.7%
20 or more units 50 7.3%
Mobile home 37 5.4%
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Boat, RV, van, etc. 0 0.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
Table 2-25 City of New Market Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019
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Table 2-26 New Market Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and
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State
over
Housing Occupancy 89.5% 84.3% 90.7%
Rate
% of Owner Occupied 82.4% 78.2% 71%
Housing
% of Renter Occupied 17.6% 21.8% 29.5%
Housing
% of Housing Units 3.20% 4.6% 6.1%
with no Vehicles
Available
Median Household $48,523 $50,431 $60,523
Income
Per Capita Income $28,661 $29,778 $32,176
% of Individuals 8.0% 10.0% 7.3%
Below Poverty Level
Average Household 2.12 2.32 2.4
Size
Table 2-27 Types and Total Amounts of Housing Units in New Market
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Total housing units 247
1-unit detached 235 95.1%
1-unit attached 0 0.0%
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2 units 0 0.0%
3 or 4 units 2 0.8%
5 to 9 units 4 1.6%
10 to 19 units 0 0.0%
20 or more units 0 0.0%
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Available
Median Household $32,000 $48,281 50.9%
Income
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Per Capita Income $17,590 $21,472 22.1%
% of Individuals 34.9% 8.9% -74.5%
Below Poverty Level
# of Households 57 43 -24.6%
Average Household 1.98 2.86 44.4%
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Size
% of Population 37.9% 40.9% 7.9%
Over 25 with High
School Diploma
% of Population 6.9% 4.5% -34.8%
Over 25 with
Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher
% with Disability 8.0% 18.7% 133.8%
% Speak English 0.0% 7.4% 7.4%
less than "Very
Well"
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year Data Estimates, 2015-2019
Table 2-29 Sharpsburg Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the County and
State
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% of Housing Units 4.70% 4.6% 6.1%
with no Vehicles
Available
Median Household
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$48,281 $50,431 $60,523
Income
Per Capita Income $21,472 $29,778 $32,176
% of Individuals 8.9% 10.0% 7.3%
Below Poverty
Level
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2.1.6 Occupations
Table 2-31 provides occupation statistics for the incorporated cities and the County as a whole.
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Table 2-31 Occupation Statistics, Taylor County, Iowa
Natural
Civilian
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Resources,
Production,
Employed Business, Sales and Transportation,
Service Construction,
Place Population Science, and Office and Material
Occupations and
16 Years Arts Occupations Moving
Maintenance
and Over Occupations Occupations
Occupations
Iowa 1,613,902 585,013 262,868 333,318 153,908 278,795
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2.1.7 Agriculture
Because of the fertility of the soils in Taylor County and the climate conditions, agricultural crops and
livestock are the backbone of the economy of Taylor.
According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture there were 667 farms in the County covering 288,530 acres
of land. Crop and livestock production are visible parts of the agricultural economy, but many related
businesses contribute by producing, processing, and marketing farm and food products. These businesses
generate income, employment and economic activity throughout the region. Farms on average are larger
in Taylor County with the average size 433 acres. Taylor County agriculture and economy contributions
are summarized in Section 3.5.1 of Chapter 3.
2.1.8 Taylor County Transportation Systems
Highway Access: There are no major U.S. Highways or Interstate Highways in Taylor County. The principal
highways in the county are listed in the table below, in addition to the approximate mileage of farm-to-
market and secondary roads in Taylor County.
Streets & Roads: The eight communities in Taylor County have roads to all developed areas. Most of the
roads in the incorporated communities are seal coated or paved. Most communities have gravel roads as
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well.
Railroads: No railroads currently operate in Taylor County. The last active lines in the county were
abandoned in the 1980s.
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Airports: Bedford Municipal Airport is the only airport located in Taylor County. It is located
approximately 3 miles south of Bedford and is has a 2,710-foot turf runway. This airport is owned and
operated by the City of Bedford and is not included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
(NPIAS). The Iowa Aviation System Plan identifies the Bedford Municipal Airport as a Basic Service airport.
Refer to Chapter 3, Section 3.5.20 Transportation Incidents for more information on the potential impacts
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required to be trained to Firefighter I and most members in most departments are trained or are being
trained. Additionally, many members are also EMTs and have hazardous materials (HAZMAT) training.
Some members in some department have training in confined spaces, search and rescue and other
specialty operations. Some departments have special foams for the fighting of fires caused by ethanol
production (there is a plant in neighboring Adams County) and other unique agricultural chemicals.
Training is provided at low cost or free from nearby Southwestern Community College and through FEMA
Assistance to Firefighters Grants to area departments. These same grants have aided in the purchase of
equipment and vehicles for some local departments.
Blockton has 13 firefighters, four EMT-Bs, and two first responders that use six vehicles. New Market has
19 active firefighters and EMTs and five fire and EMS vehicles in a modern fire station. Clearfield has 18
active firefighters and EMTs and six vehicles in a small and deteriorated fire station. Lenox continues to
work with approximately 20 volunteers and seven vehicles.
EMS Services: EMS services are offered through local fire departments, except in Bedford, where a
nonprofit Bedford Ambulance Service exists, and Sharpsburg, which has fire only. Most but not all services
are run by volunteers, trained in the same manner as firefighters. Since Taylor County has no hospitals,
there are no facility-based services. EMS operates via a 28-E agreement also that allows for the sharing of
resources and rapid response. Not all EMS agencies transport patients, but Lenox, Bedford, New Market,
and Blockton do. Poor Medicare reimbursement rates and the need to update transport vehicles makes it
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very difficult to maintain the transport services, and grants have been required to upgrades vehicles in
recent years. Most of the county’s EMTs are trained and certified to EMT-B only (Lenox and Bedford are to
EMT-PS), but this meets the most urgent need. Hospital-based helicopters are dispatched when rapid
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transport is needed to Des Moines or Omaha facilities.
Response to HAZMAT incidents is an ongoing issue. The major providers are located near Omaha, Des
Moines, or Ottumwa and are both expensive and far away. At this time, the DNR offers limited service to
walk through the process with local Operations-level trained firefighters and first responders. The county
has no official HAZMAT decontamination sites.
Overall training is comprehensive in Taylor County, with dozens of people in all jurisdictions trained to the
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applicable NIMS standards and specialty areas. During the mitigation alternatives and capabilities
discussion, few jurisdictions noted a major concern over the need for more or better volunteers or
massively improved training.
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through the Sheriff’s Office in Bedford. All areas of the county have been mapped and given an E-911
address. First responders have been trained on the system and know the territory.
Vehicles and trained personnel and volunteers have pagers and radios to communicate in all areas of the
county. There are some shortcomings that continually need addressed. One of these is the quality of
communication in remote areas of the county. To address this, repeaters have been installed on towers,
buildings, and in vehicles in various jurisdictions. Many water towers and communications towers contain
county and local communications equipment along with private data transfer equipment. It is not always
known what is lightning protected. Yet, some areas have continued problems due to the hilly terrain.
Another issue to which funding is limited in the new narrow-banding requirement, which will soon make
most existing emergency communications equipment obsolete. This most greatly affects small volunteer
fire and EMS agencies. Note that there is a backup communications system in the event of failure of the
main emergency response system.
Wireless and wired communications varies by area of the county. Lenox has the best technology, with
extensive looping of fiber lines in all parts of the City by the Lenox Municipal Utilities. Lenox has its own
cable network. Fiber lines include those along 220th Street, north of New Market, and along Highway 2
that provide coverage to many parts of the county. Lenox and Bedford, as well as some other areas, are
served by Frontier Communications for daily personal communications using landline phones.
Windstream (formerly Iowa Telecom) serves the other areas. Most of the county has reasonable access to
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cellular phone signals, but the best coverage is close to Lenox, Bedford, and New Market, where there are
towers. Phone offices and cellular retail outlets can be found in many jurisdictions.
Warning Systems: Warning alerts are provided via several mediums in Taylor County and most vigilant
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persons will be alerted of impending disasters and other warnings.
The primary and most known medium is via TV and radio alerts. With local and cable weather channels,
AM and FM radio, and amateur radio, all parts of the county, even those with satellite services and no
cable, can be alerted to all hazards. There is a NOAA all hazards radio tower near Lenox. NOAA weather
radios are an important warning mechanism as these devices can turn on automatically and have the
capability for battery backup in the event of power failure.
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Warning sirens are effective alert systems for those who are outdoors in local cities with sirens. All cities
within the planning area have warning sirens.
Alert Iowa is a statewide mass notification and emergency messaging system. This system can be used by
state and local authorities to quickly disseminate emergency information to residents in counties that use
the system. Taylor County does use this service. It allows citizens to sign up for the types of alerts they
would like to receive. Messages can be received via text message.
Another means of alert is a reverse E-911 program (Code Red) offered through Southern Iowa Rural Water
Association (SIRWA) to customers. This service has improving capabilities and is not available to all
persons. This service is expensive and should not be a first-line alert for severe storms like tornadoes. It
can be very effective for other emergencies, such as invoking evacuations or lock-downs or warnings of
disease outbreaks or other man-made or cascading effects.
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disaster events and to serve as an informational database of disaster information. The work of the EMA is
set out in Iowa Code 29.C, and via funding agreements with FEMA and State agencies.
2.1.14 Other Relevant Infrastructure
Potable Water: Potable water is provided to all residents that wish to pay for it, through either SIRWA or
Southwest Regional Water District (formerly Page I), with SIRWA covering 90% of residents and territory.
Some residents, almost entirely rural, remain off the regional systems and continue to use individual dug
wells for either human use or agricultural use or both. These water suppliers sell directly to households
and businesses in rural areas and the small towns that do not bulk purchase. Bedford, Lenox, New Market,
and Blockton purchase water from SIRWA and sell it to their residents (bulk purchase). There are no water
production and treatment facilities in use in Taylor County. Water is produced from surface lakes and
treated in plants near Corning and Creston (SIRWA) and Clarinda (SWRWD). Water towers are found in
most of the towns and at strategic locations in rural areas to ensure there is adequate storage for short-
term outages and for fire protection needs. Other rural water towers feeding the county are located near
Conway, west of Gravity, near Sharpsburg, and along N-64.
Surface lakes are a cause of concern when extended droughts drop the water of the lake supplies and
rationing becomes necessary. SIRWA plans a loop system to allow for transfer of water from all parts of
the system and has several more lake projects planned, including the 102 RVA project in rural Taylor
County. The 102 RVA project is a proposed approximately 1,000-acre lake to be built in the north half of
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Taylor County partly as a flood control project but mostly as a water source lake. However, funding these
projects is very difficult and takes many years to develop. The 102 RVA project, if completed, is still many
years from fruition, and SIRWA indicates a strong likelihood of a significant capacity shortage of 5.2
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million gallons per day by 2027 without more surface water sources. The groundwater sources are
deemed poor quality and cannot be used.
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Sanitary Sewer: Sanitary sewer treatment is provided in order to prevent pollution and human and
animal disease incidents due to dumping of wastewater into local streams, rivers, and soils. Sanitary sewer
is provided municipally in several jurisdictions, either directly or in contract with one of the two regional
water providers. Bedford (mechanical with lagoons), Lenox (lagoons only), Clearfield (lagoons only), and
New Market (lagoons only) have their own wastewater systems. Additionally, Michael Foods in Lenox has
its own mechanical treatment plant. SIRWA manages sewer systems in Sharpsburg, Blockton, and Gravity.
Conway does not have a system. Like Conway, the vast majority of rural residents are not served by
central sewer systems. These areas are served by septic tanks. Iowa law requires regular maintenance of
septic systems and inspections before properties are sold. However, the lack of funding available to
upgrade systems to ever-changing regulations makes it very difficult to meet the needs of the county,
which taxes the resources of the Sanitarian/Environmental Services Dept.
Blockton has lift stations at corner of Redding and Division Streets and on Hichenlooper Street. Clearfield
has lift stations at north end of town on Highway 25, Highway 25 and Third Street, and Jackson and Third
Street. New Market has no lift stations. Other towns have one or more depending on the topography of
the community and location of the treatment facility.
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Electrical Power: Electrical power is provided to all areas of the county following programs that have
funded electrical distribution to rural areas. Electricity is provided to paying customers primarily from
Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative, which has offices in Corning, Stanton, and Mount Ayr (all in
neighboring counties). Most of the county (excepting the southern and southwest parts) and many of the
cities are served by SWIREC, with Bedford and New Market being served by MidAmerican Energy and
Clearfield and Blockton by Alliant Energy. Lenox Municipal Utilities is the only municipality in the county
providing electricity and the only local source of public power generation. All SWIREC, Alliant, and
MidAmerican power is generated outside of the county. Lenox has a wind turbine at the northeast corner
of town and diesel engines in its downtown Lenox plant but purchase some power through an agreement
with Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO). The CIPCO system feeds the SWIREC customer base but
many of its 69kV lines are unreliable due to age. Power substations and major utility lines cross the county
at key locations and provide unique risks; many of these facilities are above ground and many polls and
lines need hardened to withstand high winds and heavy ice accumulations. Significant substations are
located in central Lenox, west edge of Bedford, just north of New Market (210th and Badger Sts.), and 2
miles south of Clearfield.
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Heating and Industrial Fuel: Most areas of the county are served by some kind of liquid or gas heating
and industrial fuel, either propane or natural gas. Only a small percentage of properties are served by
wood, coal, corn, or other renewable or non-renewable fuels. Where it is economical to provide, natural
gas is the best choice. However, communities must be large enough to support the cost of transporting
large amounts of gas via pipelines from sources in other parts of the nation, almost all of which are out of
Iowa. Lenox, Clearfield, and Bedford are served via a major pipeline that crosses the area from southwest
to northeast. The service area includes only these three towns, which purchase in bulk from the line
through Adams County to the north of Taylor County near Prescott (12 miles north of Lenox). The Lenox
Municipal Utilities purchases gas and distributes what it does not need to utilities in Bedford and
Clearfield. The other areas of the county have individual propane tanks. Several suppliers in the region
offer for sale this liquid fuel for purchase by residents. The fuel is hauled in on trucks to properties
seasonally. This method makes sense for rural areas. Risks of natural gas are related to pipeline failure,
which has happened on the Lenox to Prescott line in the winter. Risks of propane include hauler spills and
the effect of hazard events on exposed tanks in yards. Both kinds of fuels are very explosive.
Gas border stations are located at the northwest corner of Clearfield, northeast corner of Bedford, and
southwest corner of Lenox.
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Storm Water Control: Flash and river flooding, as well as a host of other cascading hazards, are caused
by uncontrolled storm water that floods buildings, washes out farmland and roads, and travels through
contaminated sites. Most of the county has very limited means to control excessive storm water problems
from the heaviest rains and rapid snowmelts. While building bridges, culverts, buffer strips, curb and
gutter, and other methods exist in some areas, damages to homes, farms, sewer and water lines, and
streets is still very high. One of the most significant recurring problems is with storm water getting into
sanitary sewer systems. It is very important to invest in and maintain all these systems in order to prevent
clogging of pipes and plugging of ditches and culverts. However, the cost is very high and resources are
very limited. Underground systems in towns help, but they are often unmaintained and only cause storm
water to enter streams faster, thereby exacerbating flash flooding.
Solid Waste: The existing landfill is an approved closed site. The county is served by independent
contractors that transport waste material to a transfer station located near Creston in Union County. The
facility located there is managed by the Prairie Solid Waste Agency (SWA) – an intergovernmental agency
created under the authority of Iowa Code 28E. Iowa Code requires all solid waste in Taylor County to be
delivered to Prairie SWA. The communities of the county are represented by the Adams/Taylor Regional
Service Agency, which works very closely with Prairie SWA. Regional Collection Center (RCC) is a facility at
Prairie SWA designed to collect household hazardous waste. A former landfill in Holt Township about 7
miles west of Lenox is a Tier II facility due to possible contamination from that site.
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Table 2-33 Mitigation Capabilities for Taylor County and Incorporated Cities
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Taylor New
Element Bedford Blockton Clearfield Conway Gravity Lenox Sharpsburg
County Market
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City Governance – Departments, Boards,
& Commissions
City Hall (City Clerk) No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Fire Department No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Yes –
Police Department Sheriff Sheriff Sheriff No No Sheriff Sheriff No
Sheriff
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Public Works
No Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No
Department
Board Of Adjustments No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Library Board Of
No Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No
Trustees
Electric Board Of
No No No No No No No No No
Trustees
Community Center
No No Yes No No No Yes No No
Board
Policies/Ordinance
Taylor New
Element Bedford Blockton Clearfield Conway Gravity Lenox Sharpsburg
County Market
Comprehensive/Land Yes – 1-27-
No No No No No No No No
Use Plan 2020
Capital Improvement
No No No No No No No No Yes
Plan
Local/County
Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No No
Emergency Plan
Local Mitigation Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Flood Mitigation
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No No No No Yes No No No Yes
Assistance (FMA) Plan
Watershed Plan No No No No No No No No No
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Critical Facilities Plan
(Mitigation/Response/ No No No No No No No No No
Recovery)
Economic Development
No No No No No No No No No
Plan
Yes –
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Secondary
Transportation Plan No No No No No No No No
Roads 5-
Year Plan
Firewise Or Other Fire
No No No No No No No No No
Mitigation Plan
Zoning Ordinance No Yes No No Yes No No No Yes
Restricted Residential
No No No Yes No No No No No
District
Subdivision Ordinance No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Yes –
Yes –
Building Code No Yes No No Related to No Yes No
Related To
Dangerou
Taylor New
Element Bedford Blockton Clearfield Conway Gravity Lenox Sharpsburg
County Market
s Dangerous
Buildings Buildings
Building Permit
No Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No
Ordinance
YES – Chp
Floodplain Ordinance No Yes Yes No 504 (1-9- No No No No
2017)
Yes –
Yes – When
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When
Tree Trimming Trees
No Yes No No Trees Yes Yes No
Ordinance Overhang
Overhang
Street
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Street
Nuisance Ordinance No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Stormwater Ordinance No Yes No Yes No No No No No
Drainage Ordinance No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Site Plan Review
No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Requirements
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Historic Preservation
No No No No No No No No No
Ordinance
Yes -
Landscape Ordinance No Yes No No No No No Yes
Mowing
Iowa Wetlands And
Riparian Areas No No No No No No No No No
Conservation Plan
No – Yes –
Debris Management Being Designated No – In
No Yes No No No No
Plan Considere Place for process
d Tree Debris
Taylor New
Element Bedford Blockton Clearfield Conway Gravity Lenox Sharpsburg
County Market
Programs
No No No
National Flood Yes Yes Yes
Sanction Sanction Sanction
Insurance Program Joined Joined No Joined No No
Date: Date: Date:
(NFIP) Participant 7/3/86 4/5/17 4/5/17
4/5/18 9/19/76 4/5/18
NFIP Community Rating
System (CRS) No No No No No No No No No
Participant
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Yes –
Hazard Awareness
No Yes No No No No Through No No
Program
Fire Dept.
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Planning/Zoning Boards No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Tree Trimming Program No No No No No No No No No
Engineering Studies For
Streams No No No No No No Yes No No
(Local/County/Regional)
National Weather
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Service (NWS) Storm Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Ready
Building Code
Effectiveness Grading No No No No No No No No No
(BCEGS)
ISO Fire Rating No Yes No Varies 5-9 No No Yes - 5 No No
Economic Development
No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Program
Land Use Program No No No No No No No No No
Property Acquisition No Yes No No No No No No No
Taylor New
Element Bedford Blockton Clearfield Conway Gravity Lenox Sharpsburg
County Market
Stream Maintenance
No No No No No No No No No
Program
Yes-Fire
Mutual Aid Agreements Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Department
Staff/Department
Yes –
Building Code Official No Yes No Yes No No Yes No
Mayor
Building Inspector No Yes No No No No No No No
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Mapping Specialist
Yes No No No No No Yes No No
(GIS)
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Engineer Yes No No No Yes No No No Yes
Public Works Official No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No
Yes -
Emergency Response Mayor/
No Yes Yes Yes Mayor/ Yes Yes No
Team Council
Council
NFIP Floodplain
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No Yes Yes No No No No No No
Administrator
Development Planner No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Emergency
Yes – Yes-
Management Yes Yes Yes Yes - County Mayor Yes Mayor
County County
Coordinator
HAZMAT Expert No No No No No No No No No
Local Emergency
Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No
Planning Committee
County Emergency
Management Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Commission
Taylor New
Element Bedford Blockton Clearfield Conway Gravity Lenox Sharpsburg
County Market
Yes -
Sanitation Department No Yes Yes No No Yes No No
Contract
Yes –
Transportation
Secondary No No No No No No No No
Department
Roads
Economic Development
No Yes No No No No No No No
Department
No –
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Housing Department No Yes No No No No No Housing No
Committee
Planning Consultant No Yes No No No No No No No
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Regional Planning
No Yes No Yes No No Yes No No
Agencies
Historic Preservation No Yes No No No No No No No
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
American Red Cross No Yes No No No No No No No
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Salvation Army No No No No No No No No No
Veterans Groups Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No
Environmental Groups No No No No No No No No No
Homeowner
No No No No No No No No No
Associations
Neighborhood
No No No No No No No No No
Associations
Chamber Of Commerce No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Community
Yes -Lions, Yes - Yes – Civic
Organizations (Lions, Yes No Yes No No No
4H Rotary Club
Kiwanis, Etc.)
Taylor New
Element Bedford Blockton Clearfield Conway Gravity Lenox Sharpsburg
County Market
Local Funding Availability
Ability To Fund Projects
Through Capital No Yes No Yes No No Yes No Yes
Improvements Funding
Ability To Incur Debt
Through General No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No
Obligation Bonds
Ability To Incur Debt
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Through Special Tax No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No
Bonds
Ability To Incur Debt
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Through Private No No No No No No No No No
Activities
Ability To Withhold
Spending In Hazard No No No No No No No No No
Prone Areas
Fees For Water, Sewer,
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No Yes No Yes No No Yes Yes No
Gas, Or Electric Services
Apply For Community
Development Block No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No
Grants
Authority To Levy Taxes
No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No
For A Specific Purpose
Impact Fees For New
No Yes No No No No Yes No No
Development
Yes –
Yes –
Other Local Funding Endowment
No Yes Yes Endowme Yes No No Yes
Availability Grants/Lions
nt Grants
Club
Jurisdiction Mitigation-related Public Mitigation Programs Tornado Shelters / Safe Sirens Other Warning system
Education Programs Rooms
Taylor County Storm watch classes, Debris Management None in unincorporated 8 total sirens Alert Iowa
(unincorporated) floodplain classes, pipeline Ordinance (2012) and county activated by the
classes updating bridges Sheriff’s
Department
Bedford CCR water reports, public None Reported Safe Room at Bedford 2 Alert Iowa and WEMS
education for gas service Community Schools
Blockton EMA training Abandoned and None 1 Alert Iowa
dangerous properties –
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take ownership and
demolish structures
Clearfield Fire Safety, natural gas None Reported None 1 Alert Iowa, fire truck sirens
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safety
Conway EMA training None Reported None 1 Alert Iowa
Gravity None Reported None Reported None 1 Alert Iowa, fire truck sirens
Lenox Fire Prevention None Reported Safe Room at Lenox 3 Alert Iowa, Cable Override, Nextel
Schools
New Market None Reported None Reported None None Alert Iowa
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Sharpsburg None Reported New fire truck None 1 Alert Iowa
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Potential capabilities to implement mitigation programs and projects can vary among school districts. To
determine mitigation capabilities, each of the participating school districts completed a Data Collection
Guide to report planning, personnel, fiscal, and other capabilities related to implementation of mitigation
programs and projects. Table 2-37 provides a summary of the reported capabilities for each participating
school district.
Table 2-36 Summary of Mitigation Capabilities, Taylor County Public School Districts
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Master Plan No Yes-2019
Capital Improvement Plan Yes-2016 Yes-2020
School Emergency Plan Yes-2015 Yes-2019
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Weapons Policy Yes-2015 Yes-2021
Personnel Resources
Full-time building official (i.e. principal) Yes-High School Principal Yes-Principals (two total - one
Elem and one secondary)
Emergency Manager Yes-Building/Grounds Director Yes-Superintendent
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Grant Writer No No
Public Information Officer Yes-Superintendent Yes-Superintendent
Financial Resources
Capital Improvements project funding Yes-would require Board Yes-would require Board
approval approval
Local funds Yes Yes
General obligation bonds Yes-would require public vote Yes-would require public vote
Special Tax bonds Yes Yes
Private activities/donations Yes Yes
State and federal funds Yes Yes
Other
Public Address/Emergency Alert System Yes Yes
NOAA Weather Radios Yes Yes-3
Public Education Programs No ALICE Training
Lenox Fire Dept. conducts fire
safety training with elementary
students each year.
Mitigation Programs Safe Room Construction-2016 Safe Room Constructin-2013
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Project Type Sub applicant Year Total Cost
Local Multi-hazard Mitigation Plan Taylor (County) 2008 $37,548
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Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind
Lenox Community School Dist. 2010 $767,048
Shelter) - Public Structures
Safe Room (Tornado and Severe Wind
Bedford Community School 2011 $819,752
Shelter) - Public Structures
Local Multi-hazard Mitigation Plan -
Taylor (County) 2015 $25,500
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Total $1,649,848
Source: OpenFEMA Dataset: Hazard Mitigation Assistance Projects
Blockton
• Consider participation in Community Rating System (CRS) to assist residents in access to flood
insurance discounts.
• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with cities and school districts.
• Integrate risk information into the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.
Clearfield
• Consider participation in the NFIP to that resident may have access to flood insurance.
• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with cities and school districts.
Conway
• Consider participation in Community Rating System (CRS) to assist residents in access to flood
insurance discounts.
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• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with cities and school districts.
• Integrate risk information into the City’s Emergency Operations Plan.
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Gravity
• Consider participation in the NFIP to that resident may have access to flood insurance.
• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with cities and school districts.
• Integrate risk information into the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and Flood Mitigation Assistance
Plan.
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Lenox
• Consider participation in the NFIP to that resident may have access to flood insurance.
• Integrate risk information into future updates of the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
New Market
• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with cities and school districts.
• Consider developing Mutual Aid Agreements with County and other incorporated jurisdictions.
Sharpsburg
• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with cities and school districts.
• Integrate risk information into future updates to the city’s Capital Improvement Plan and Flood
Mitigation Assistance Plan.
Bedford CSD
• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with county, cities and Lenox CSD.
Lenox CSD
• Develop an all-hazards public awareness program in partnership with county, cities and Lenox CSD.
3 Risk Assessment
[The plan shall include] A risk assessment that provides the factual basis for activities proposed in the
strategy to reduce losses from identified hazards. Local risk assessments must provide sufficient
information to enable the jurisdiction to identify and prioritize appropriate mitigation actions to reduce
losses from identified hazards.
The risk assessment process identifies and profiles relevant hazards and assesses the exposure of lives,
property, and infrastructure within Taylor County, Iowa to these hazards. The goal of the risk assessment is
to estimate the potential loss in the planning area, including loss of life, personal injury, property damage,
and economic loss, from a hazard event. The risk assessment process allows communities in the planning
area to better understand their potential risk to the identified hazards and provides a framework for
developing and prioritizing mitigation actions to reduce risk from future hazard events.
The risk assessment for Taylor County and participating jurisdictions followed the methodology described
in the 2013 FEMA Local Mitigation planning Handbook, which includes a four-step process:
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Step 1—Describe Hazards
Step 2—Identify Community Assets
Step 3—Analyze Risks
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Step 4—Summarize Vulnerability
This chapter is divided into six main parts:
• Section 3.1 Hazard Identification identifies the hazards that threaten the planning area and the
methodology utilized to score or rank the hazards;
• Section 3.2 Assets at Risk provides the planning area’s total exposure to natural hazards, considering
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Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i):
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the type…of all natural
hazards that can affect the jurisdiction.
The hazards identified for this plan update are listed below in alphabetical order
Hazards
Animal/Plant/Crop Disease
Cyber Attack
Dam Failure
Drought
Earthquake
Expansive Soils
Extreme Heat
Flooding
Grass/Wildland Fire
Hazardous Materials Incident
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Human Disease
Infrastructure Failure
Landslide
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Radiological Incident
Severe Winter Storm
Sinkholes
Terrorism
Thunderstorm/Lightning/Hail
Tornado/Windstorm
Transportation Incident
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Sections 3.1.1 through 3.1.3 describe how these hazards were identified for this plan update.
3.1.1 Review of Existing Mitigation Plans
Prior to 2009, Hazard Mitigation Planning in Taylor County was implemented on a jurisdictional basis. At
that time, only the City of Lenox had an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. In 2009, the unincorporated
County and incorporated municipalities came together to coordinate multi-jurisdictional mitigation
planning for the entire Taylor County planning area. This coordinated effort resulted in the Taylor County,
Iowa Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, approved by FEMA in November 2011. Since that time,
this multi-jurisdictional plan has served as a guide for implementation of the mitigation strategy for Taylor
County, the incorporated cities, and the public school districts that participated in development of that
plan.
This plan is a result of multi-jurisdictional coordination to update the 2016 plan. To identify hazards to
include in the risk assessment update, a comparison was performed between the hazard identification in
the 2018 Iowa State Hazard Mitigation Plan, the 2016 Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation
Plan and 2021 Update. Table 3-1 provides the details of the comparison.
2018 State Plan 2016 Taylor County Plan 2021 Taylor County Plan
Animal/Plant/Crop Disease Animal/Plant/Crop Disease Animal/Plant/Crop Disease
Cyber Attack (new)
Dam/Levee Failure Dam Failure Dam Failure
Drought Drought Drought
Earthquake Earthquake Earthquake
Expansive Soils Expansive Soils Expansive Soils
Extreme Heat Extreme Heat Extreme Heat
Flooding: Riverine/Flash Flood Flash Flooding Flooding: Riverine/Flash Flood (combined to
align with State HMP)
River Flooding
Grass or Wildland Fire Grass or Wildland Fire Grass or Wildland Fire
Hazardous Materials Incident Hazardous Materials Incident Hazardous Materials Incident
Human Disease Human Disease Human Disease
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Infrastructure Failure Infrastructure Failure Infrastructure Failure
Landslide Landslide Landslide
Radiological Incident Radiological Incident Radiological Incident
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Severe Winter Storms Severe Winter Storm Severe Winter Storm
Sinkholes Sinkholes Sinkholes
Terrorism Terrorism Terrorism
Thunderstorm/Lightning/Hail Thunderstorm/Lightning/Hail Thunderstorm/Lightning/Hail
Tornado/Windstorm Tornado/Windstorm Tornado/Windstorm
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After a review of the hazards, it was agreed that the hazards/hazard naming for this update will be revised
to be more consistent with the 2018 State Plan including combing flooding (riverine and flash flood).
Additionally, Cyber Attack was added to this new plan as a new hazard profile.
3.1.2 Review Disaster Declaration History
Additional information utilized to identify hazards relevant for Taylor County was obtained by examining
events that triggered federal disaster declarations. Federal and/or state declarations may be granted when
the severity and magnitude of an event surpasses the ability of the local government to respond and
recover. Disaster assistance is supplemental and sequential. When the local government’s capacity has
been surpassed, a state disaster declaration may be issued, allowing for the provision of state assistance. If
the disaster is so severe that both the local and state governments’ capacities are exceeded; a federal
emergency or disaster declaration may be issued allowing for the provision of federal assistance.
FEMA also issues emergency declarations, which are more limited in scope and do not include the long-
term federal recovery programs of major disaster declarations. Determinations for declaration type are
based on scale and type of damages and institutions or industrial sectors affected.
Table 3-2 lists federal disaster declarations that included Taylor County for the period from 1953 to 2021.
Table 3-2 FEMA Disaster Declarations that included Taylor County, Iowa, 1953-2021
4181 7/14/2014 6/3 to 6/5/2014 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding
1930 7/29/2010 6/1 to 8/31/2010 Iowa Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
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928 12/26/1991 10/31 to 11/29/1991 Ice Storm
Table 3-3 provides the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretarial disaster declarations
that included Taylor County from 2012 through 2020. Details on USDA declarations prior to 2012 are not
available.
Table 3-3 USDA Secretarial Disaster Declarations Including Taylor Co. (2012-2020)
Heat, Excessive
Excessive Rain,
Approval Date
Fire, Wildfire
Flood/Flash
Wind, High
Begin Date
Desig. No.
State
Crop Year
humidity)
Moisture,
Humidity
(incl. low
Drought
Insects
Winds
Flood
Heat
Heat, Excessive
Excessive Rain,
Approval Date
Fire, Wildfire
Flood/Flash
Wind, High
Begin Date
Desig. No.
State
Crop Year
humidity)
Moisture,
Humidity
(incl. low
Drought
Insects
Winds
Flood
Heat
Iowa 2013 S3614 x x x x x 12/11/2013 8/27/2013
Iowa 2012 S3299 x x 7/17/2012 4/1/2012
Iowa 2012 S3337 x x x x x 8/15/2012 8/7/2012
Iowa 2012 S3390 x x x x x 9/12/2012 7/17/2012
Iowa 2012 S3398 x x x x x 9/19/2012 7/24/2012
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture; https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/disaster-
designation-information/index and 2016 Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan
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• Taylor County Emergency Management
• Taylor County Preliminary Flood Insurance Study, FEMA
• Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (2016)
•
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Data Collection Guides completed by each jurisdiction
• Environmental Protection Agency
• FEMA
• Flood Insurance Administration
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation
• Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Information and Analysis Services
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
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•
• Iowa Department of Public Safety
• Iowa Department of Transportation, Office of Traffic and Safety
• Iowa State Hazard Mitigation Plan (September 2018)
• Iowa Utilities Board
• National Drought Mitigation Center Drought Reporter
• National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS)
• NOAA National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI)
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency Crop Insurance Statistics
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• United States Geological Survey
• Various articles and publications available on the Internet (sources are indicated where data is cited)
3.1.4 Hazards Identified
Through the hazard identification review process, 20 natural and human-caused/technological hazards
that have the potential to significantly affect the planning area were chosen for further analysis in the risk
assessment. The hazards identified for this plan update are listed below in alphabetical order:
• Animal/Plant/Crop Disease
• Cyber Attack
• Dam Failure
• Drought
• Earthquake
• Expansive Soils
• Extreme Heat
• Flooding
• Grass or Wildland Fire
• Hazardous Materials Incident
• Human Disease
• Infrastructure Failure
• Landslide
• Radiological Incident
• Severe Winter Storm
• Sinkholes
• Terrorism
• Thunderstorm with Lightning/Hail
• Tornado/Windstorm
• Transportation Incident
For this multi-jurisdictional plan, the risks are assessed for each jurisdiction where they deviate from the
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risks facing the entire planning area.
The planning area is fairly uniform in terms of climate and topography as well as building construction
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characteristics. Accordingly, the geographic areas of occurrence for weather-related hazards do not vary
greatly across the planning area for most hazards. The more urbanized areas within the planning area
have more assets that are vulnerable to the weather-related hazards and varied development trends
impact the future vulnerability. Similarly, more rural areas have more assets (crops/livestock) that are
vulnerable to drought. These differences are discussed in greater detail in the vulnerability sections of
each hazard.
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Although 20 hazards with the potential to significantly affect the planning area were identified and
selected for additional analysis, not all hazards impact every jurisdiction. Table 3-4 provides a summary of
the jurisdictions impacted by each hazard. An “x” indicates the jurisdiction is impacted by the hazard. A "-"
indicates the hazard is not applicable to that jurisdiction.
Transportation Incident
Infrastructure Failure
Radiological Incident
Tornado/Windstorm
Dam / Levee Failure
Grass/Wildland Fire
Jurisdiction
Human Disease
Expansive Soils
Extreme Heat
Cyber Attack
Earthquake
Terrorism
Sinkholes
Landslide
Drought
Flood
Unincorporated x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Taylor County
Bedford x x x x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
Blockton x x - x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
Clearfield x x - x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
Thunderstorm/Lightning/Hail
Hazardous Materials Incident
Animal/Plant/Crop Disease
Transportation Incident
Infrastructure Failure
Radiological Incident
Tornado/Windstorm
Dam / Levee Failure
Grass/Wildland Fire
Jurisdiction
Human Disease
Expansive Soils
Extreme Heat
Cyber Attack
Earthquake
Terrorism
Sinkholes
Landslide
Drought
Flood
Conway x x - x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
Gravity x x - x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
Lenox x x x x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
New Market x x - x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
Bedford School x x - x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
District
Lenox School x x - x x x x x x x x x - x x x x x x x
District
“-“Indicates hazard not applicable to this jurisdiction
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3.1.5 Hazard Scoring Methodology
To maintain reporting format consistent with the 2016 Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Taylor County HMPC
used the same methodology to score and prioritize the hazards. This prioritization was based on a hazard
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scoring system that considers four elements of risk: probability, magnitude/severity, warning time, and
duration. Table 3-5 provides definitions for each of the four elements along with associated rating levels.
Element/Score Definitions
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Probability: Reflects the likelihood of the hazard occurring again in the future, considering both the hazard’s
historical occurrence and the projected likelihood of the hazard occurring in any given year.
1—Unlikely Less than 10% probability in any given year (up to 1 in 10 chance of occurring), history of
events is less than 10% likely or the event is unlikely but there is a possibility of its occurrence.
2—Occasional Between 10% and 20% probability in any given year (up to 1 in 5 chance of occurring), history
of events is greater than 10% but less than 20% or the event could possibly occur.
3—Likely Between 20% and 33% probability in any given year (up to 1 in 3 chance of occurring), history
of events is greater than 20% but less than 33% or the event is likely to occur.
4—Highly Likely More than 33% probability in any given year (event has up to a 1 in 1 chance of occurring),
history of events is greater than 33% likely or the event is highly likely to occur.
Magnitude / Severity: Assessment of severity in terms of injuries and fatalities, personal property, and infrastructure
and the degree and extent with which the hazard affects the jurisdiction.
1—Negligible Less than 10% of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for less than
24 hours, and/or injuries /illnesses treatable with first aid.
2—Limited 10% to 25% of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for more than a
week, and/or injuries/illnesses that do not result in permanent disability.
3—Critical 25% to 50% of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for at least 2
weeks, and/or injuries/illnesses that result in permanent disability.
Element/Score Definitions
4—Catastrophic More than 50% of property severely damaged, shutdown of facilities and services for more
than 30 days, and/or multiple deaths.
Warning Time: Rating of the potential amount of warning time that is available before the hazard occurs. This
should be taken as an average warning time.
Duration: A measure of the duration of time that the hazard will affect the jurisdiction.
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Using the rating scales described in the table above, the formula used to determine each hazard’s score,
including weighting factors, is provided below:
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(Probability x.45) + (Magnitude/Severity x.30) + (Warning Time x.15) + (Duration x.10) = SCORE
Based on the hazard’s overall weighted score, the hazards are categorized as follows: High (3.0-4.0),
Moderate (2.0-2.9), and Low (1.0-1.9).
These terms relate to the level of planning analysis to be given to the particular hazard in the risk
assessment process and are not meant to suggest that a hazard would have only limited impact. In order
to focus on the most critical hazards, those assigned a level of high or moderate were given more
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extensive attention in the remainder of the risk assessment (e.g., quantitative analysis or loss estimation),
while those with a low planning significance were addressed in more general or qualitative ways.
The HMPC determined overview hazard ranking scores for the planning area as a whole. The results of this
overview are provided below in Table 3-6. Additionally, the hazard ranking overview is provided at the
beginning of each hazard profile and vulnerability section. A detailed hazard summary by jurisdiction is
provided at the conclusion of each hazard profile and vulnerability section to provide a summary of how
the hazard varies by jurisdiction.
There have been a few changes in the significance ratings of the hazards since the 2016 plan. For instance,
each of the hazards rated high significance in 2016 retained that rating for 2021/2022, with the addition
of human disease which increased in significance from Moderate to High. Additionally, earthquake,
sinkholes, and landslide all remained low significance and hazardous materials incident, radiological
incident, and expansive soils each decreased from moderate to low.
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Hazardous Materials Incident 2 1 4 1 1.9 Low
Earthquake
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Landslide 1 1 1 1 1 Low
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More Precipitation
• Increased frequency of precipitation extremes that lead to flooding.
• Increase of 8 percent more precipitation from 1873 to 2008.
• A larger increase in precipitation in eastern Iowa than in western Iowa.
Higher Temperatures
• Long-term winter temperatures have increased six times more than summer temperatures.
• Nighttime temperatures have increased more than daytime temperatures since 1970.
• Iowa’s humidity has risen substantially, especially in summer, which now has 13 percent more
atmospheric moisture than 35 years ago as indicated by a 3 - 5 degree F rise in dew-point
temperature. This fuels convective thunderstorms that provide more summer precipitation.
Agricultural Challenges
• Climate extremes, not averages, have the greater impact on crop and livestock productivity.
• Increased soil erosion and water runoff.
• Increased challenges associated with manure applications.
• Favorable conditions for survival and spread of many unwanted pests and pathogens.
Habitat Changes
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• Plants are leafing out and flowering sooner.
• Birds are arriving earlier in the spring.
•
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Particular animals are now being sighted farther north than in the past.
Climate change considerations are further discussed under each hazard profile.
• The contents exposure values were calculated by factoring a multiplier to the building exposure
values based on usage type.
• Land values have been purposely excluded from the tables because land remains following disasters,
and subsequent market devaluations are frequently short-term and difficult to quantify. Additionally,
state and federal disaster assistance programs generally do not address loss of land or its associated
value (other than crop insurance).
Population data is based on the 2019 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau reported by Iowa
State University of Science and Technology. Building Exposure values are based on parcel data provided
by the Taylor County GIS. Contents exposure values were calculated by factoring a multiplier to the
building exposure values based on property type. According to the assessor’s data, the sum of the actual
value improvements in the County is $275,280,750 (total building exposure). Contents exposure is
estimated as a percent of the improvement value (specifically, 50% of the improvement value for
residential and multi-residential structures, 150% for industrial structures, 100% for agricultural structures,
commercial, and mixed-use structures), based on standard FEMA methodologies. Table 3-8 that follows
provides a summary of the improved parcel counts and values by usage type.
Table 3-7 Population and Building Exposure by Jurisdiction – Unincorporated County and
Incorporated Cities
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Jurisdiction 2019 Improved Improved Estimated Total Value
Population Parcels/Structures Value Content Value
Estimate
Bedford
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1,384 913 $50,463,230 $30,332,715 $80,795,945
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Total 943 4
Source: Enrollment Statistics from 2020-2021 Iowa Public School PreK-12 Enrollments by District – Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of
Information and Analysis Services; Building Count from Lenox and Bedford CSDs
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3.2.2 Critical and Essential Facilities and Infrastructure
For the purposes of this plan, a critical facility is defined as one that is essential in providing utility or
direction either during the response to an emergency or during the recovery operation. FEMA organizes
critical facilities into seven lifeline categories as shown in Figure 3-1.
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Source: FEMA
These lifeline categories standardize the classification of critical facilities and infrastructure that provide
indispensable service, operation, or function to a community. A lifeline is defined as providing
indispensable service that enables the continuous operation of critical business and government
functions, and is critical to human health and safety, or economic security. These categorizations are
particularly useful as they:
• Enable effort consolidations between government and other organizations (e.g. infrastructure owners
and operators)
• Enable integration of preparedness efforts among plans; easier identification of unmet critical facility
needs
• Refine sources and products to enhance awareness, capability gaps, and progress towards
stabilization
• Enhance communication amongst critical entities, while enabling complex interdependencies between
government assets
• Highlight lifeline related priority areas regarding general operations as well as response efforts.
To develop a comprehensive list of critical facilities in Taylor County (Table 3-10), three data sources were
compiled and broken down along the three aforementioned critical asset categories: Taylor County’s GIS
databases of critical facilities and infrastructure.
The best available data was used, but some limitations include lack of complete or comprehensive data
and values such as replacement costs. These databases were used in vulnerability assessments for hazards
such as dam and flood and are represented in maps and tables in the vulnerability by hazard section that
follows. Table 3-10 illustrates the location of critical facilities in Taylor County.
Hazardous Material
Transportation
Jurisdiction
Energy
Total
Bedford - - - 3 1 10 - 14
Blockton - - - 1 - 1 1 3
Clearfield - - - 4 1 2 - 7
Conway - - 1 - - - - 1
Gravity - - - - - 1 - 1
Lenox 1 1 2 9 3 9 -
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25
New Market - - 1 - - 2 - 3
Sharpsburg - - - - - 1 - 1
Unincorporated 19
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Total 20 2 26 26 5 31 243 353
Source: Taylor County GIS, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), HIFLD, National Bridge Inventory
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Other Assets
Assessing the vulnerability of the planning area to disaster also involves inventorying the natural, historic,
cultural, and economic assets of the area. This is important for the following reasons:
• The plan participants may decide that these types of resources warrant a greater degree of protection
due to their unique and irreplaceable nature and contribution to the overall economy.
• If these resources are impacted by a disaster, knowing about them ahead of time allows for more
prudent care in the immediate aftermath, when the potential for additional impacts is higher.
• The rules for reconstruction, restoration, rehabilitation, and/or replacement are often different for
these types of designated resources.
• Natural resources can have beneficial functions that reduce the impacts of natural hazards, such as
wetlands and riparian habitat, which help absorb and attenuate floodwaters.
• Losses to economic assets (e.g., major employers or primary economic sectors) could have severe
impacts on a community and its ability to recover from disaster.
In the planning area, specific assets include the following:
Threatened and Endangered Species: Table 3-11 includes Federally Threatened, Endangered, Proposed
and Candidate Species in Taylor County, Iowa.
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Table 3-11 Threatened and Endangered Species in Taylor County
Indiana bat
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Natural Resources: The Taylor County Conservation Board manages five parks and wildlife areas around
the County, encompassing over 539 acres. There is also one State Park in Taylor County (Source: Taylor
County Conservation Board, http://taylorcountyiowa.org/conservation-board.html).
• French Nature Reserve: An 80-acre timber tract east of Bedford owned by the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources and managed by Taylor County Conservation Board. It is primarily a nature and
wildlife preserve. No hunting or motorized vehicles are allowed. There are 3 miles of trails for hiking.
• Sand’s Timber Recreation Area: A 235-acre site with a 76-acre lake located west and north of
Blockton. This area includes seven modern campsites for rent as well as primitive camping. The lake is
stocked with bass, channel cat and pan fish. Only electric boat motors are allowed. There is a 2-mile
hiking trail and public hunting is allowed except in the camping/picnic areas.
• SLAM Track: This is a 117-acre public hunting area located on the Taylor/Page County line.
• Wilson Lake: This is a 50-acre site with a 20-acre lake located south and east of Lenox. This area
includes 10 modern camp sites as well as primitive camping. The lake is stocked with catfish, bass, fan
fish, and some walleye. Only electric boat motors are allowed, and no hunting is allowed.
• Windmill Lake: This is a 60-acre site with a 20-acre lack located east of New Market. There are 14
modern camp sites as well as primitive camping. The lake has catfish, bass, pan fish and some walleye.
Only electric boat motors are allowed.
• Lake of Three Firs State Park: This 85-acre lake is nearly a mile long and a half mile wide with 691
acres of woodlands surrounding the lake. There are 8 miles of marked trails for hikers, horseback
riders and snowmobiles. There are two modern campgrounds with 140 sites.
Historic Resources: The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's cultural
resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the
National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to
identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. The National Register is
administered by the National Park Service under the Secretary of the Interior. Properties listed in the
National Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American
history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. There are six properties and one district in
Taylor County that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
• Bedford Commercial Historic 200-500 blks. Main St Bedford
District
• Bedford House 406 Main Street Bedford
• Bedford Oil Company Station 601 Madison Bedford
• Bedford Public Library Jefferson Street Bedford
• Lenox Hotel 114 S Main Street Lenox
• Lenox Round Barn 1001 Pollock Blvd Bedford Vicinity
• Taylor County Courthouse Court Ave. Bedford
The Bedford Commercial Historic District includes most of the central business district of Bedford located
in the shadow of the Taylor County Courthouse. Other historic sites of local interest include many other
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buildings and bridges located throughout the County.
Agriculture and the Economy: Economic assets at risk may include major employers or primary
economic sectors, such as agriculture, whose losses or inoperability would have severe impacts on the
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community and its ability to recover from disaster. After a disaster, economic vitality is the engine that
drives recovery. Every community has a specific set of economic drivers, which are important to
understand when planning ahead to reduce disaster impacts to the economy. Agriculture plays an
important role in the Taylor County economy.
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City of Blockton 192 192 133 -59 -30.7%
City of Clearfield 371 363 383 20 5.5%
City of Conway
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City of Gravity 218 188 146 -42 -22.3%
City of Lenox 1,401 1,407 1,437 30 2.1%
City of New Market 456 415 469 54 13.0%
City of Sharpsburg 98 89 123 34 38.2%
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3.3.1 New Privately-Owned Residential Building Permits Issued Since the Last Plan Update
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Taylor County
There are no specific areas slated for development in the unincorporated County at this time. In general,
Taylor County is experiencing a decline in population. This trend is expected continuing forward (see
Table 3-14).
Table 3-14 Taylor County 2010 Population and Population Projection, 2010-2040
2010 Population 2020 Population 2025 Population 2030 Population 2035 Population 2040
Projection Projection Projection Projection Population
Projection
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Source: 2010 Population from the U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Decennial Census; Population Projections from the “2010 State Profile: Iowa”, Woods &
Poole Economics, Inc, Inc., www.woodsandpoole.com Prepared by: http://www.iowadatacenter.org State Library of Iowa, State Data Center Program
City of Bedford
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No major residential growth is expected in Bedford over the next five years. Bedford Water Works has a
water main project slated for 2021-2022.
City of Blockton
No specific future development is expected over the next five years.
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City of Clearfield
No specific future development is expected over the next five years.
City of Conway
No specific future development is expected over the next five years.
City of Gravity
No specific future development is expected over the next five years.
City of Lenox
No specific future development is expected over the next five years.
City of Sharpsburg
No specific future development is expected over the next five years.
Hazard Profiles
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i):):
[The risk assessment shall include a] description of the…location and extent of all natural hazards that can
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affect the jurisdiction. The plan shall include information on previous occurrences of hazard events and on
the probability of future hazard events.
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Each hazard identified in Section 3.1.4 is profiled individually in this section in alphabetical order.
The level of information presented in the profiles varies by hazard based on the information available.
With each update of this plan, new information will be incorporated to provide for better evaluation and
prioritization of the hazards that affect the planning area. Detailed profiles for each of the identified
hazards include information categorized as follows:
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Hazard Profile/Description
This section consists of a general description of the hazard and the types of impacts it may have on a
community.
Location
This section gives a spatial description of the potential location or areas of Taylor County where the
hazard is expected to have an impact or generally occur.
Historical Occurrences
This section includes information on historic incidents and their impacts where known.
Probability of Future Occurrence
The frequency of past events is used to gauge the likelihood of future occurrences. Where possible, the
probability or chance of occurrence was calculated based on historical data. Probability was determined
by dividing the number of events observed by the number of years and multiplying by 100. This gives the
percent chance of the event happening in any given year. An example would be three droughts occurring
over a 30-year period, which suggests a 10 percent chance of a drought occurring in any given year. For
each hazard, the probability is assigned a rating as defined in Table 3-5.
Magnitude and Severity (Extent)
This section also gives a description of the potential strength or magnitude of the hazard as it pertains to
Taylor County, including the estimated severity of impact and onset.
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii):
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii): [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the jurisdiction’s
vulnerability to the hazards described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section. This description shall include
an overall summary of each hazard and its impact on the community.
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(A): The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of the types and numbers
of existing and future buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities located in the identified hazard areas.
Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(B): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of an] estimate of the
potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures identified in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) of this section and a
description of the methodology used to prepare the estimate.
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Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii)(C): [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of] providing a general
description of land uses and development trends within the community so that mitigation options can be
considered in future land use decisions.
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Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(ii): (As of October 1, 2008) [The risk assessment] must also address National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insured structures that have been repetitively damaged in floods.
Following the hazard profile for each hazard is the vulnerability assessment. The vulnerability assessment
further defines and quantifies populations, buildings, critical facilities, and other community assets at risk
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to natural hazards. The vulnerability assessments were conducted based on the best available data and
the significance of the hazard. Data to support the vulnerability assessments was collected from the
following sources:
• Available GIS data sets such as Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM), parcel data, critical facilities,
etc. (all sourced when used);
• Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data, 2020;
• Written descriptions of assets and risks provided by participating jurisdictions;
• Existing plans and reports;
• Personal interviews with planning committee members and other stakeholders; and
• Other sources as cited.
Detailed profiles for each of the identified hazards include information categorized as follows:
Vulnerability Overview
This section consists of a general overview narrative of the planning area’s vulnerability to the hazard.
Following the hazard profiles is a vulnerability assessment for each identified hazard. This is a function of
when the event occurs, the location affected, the resilience of the community, and the effectiveness of the
emergency response and disaster recovery efforts. The assessment was conducted through the study of
potential impacts to the following specific sectors:
• People
• Property
Development Trends
This section reviews current trends in land use development in the County and how that might impact the
vulnerability to specific hazards in the County.
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1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
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Table 3-15 Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold, Taylor County, IA
Some level of agricultural infestation is normal in Iowa. The concern is when the level of an infestation
escalates suddenly, or a new infestation appears, overwhelming normal control efforts. The levels and
types of agricultural infestation appear to vary by many factors, including cycles of heavy rains and
drought.
Animal Disease
Agricultural incidents are naturally occurring infection of livestock with insects, vermin, or diseases that
render the livestock unfit for consumption or use. The livestock inventory for the State of Iowa includes
3,900,000 million cattle and calves. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture Taylor County ranks 63rd
in the State with 20,885 head of cattle and calves.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) monitors and reports on the following
animal reportable diseases in Iowa:
• Avian Influenza
• Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Disease
• Chronic Wasting Disease
• Exotic Newcastle Disease
• Foot and Mouth Disease
• Johne’s Disease
• Pseudo rabies
• Scrapie, and
• West Nile Virus.
Producers are required by state law to report any of the reportable animal diseases to the IDALS’s Bureau
of Animal Industry. The IDALS’s Bureau of The Center for Agriculture Security is the lead coordinating
bureau for any emergency response for an agriculture incident.
Avian influenza continues to be of concern in Iowa as the State is number one in poultry egg layers (over
17 million in 2019) and consisting of 15% of the egg production in the United States; 7th nationally in
turkey raised, 5% of total raised in the United States in 2019 (USDA 2020).
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), “mad cow” disease is a chronic, degenerative disease
affecting the central nervous system of cattle. Cases have been found worldwide since 1986, but in
Canada and the U.S. only a single cow was reported with BSE in 2003. Additional cases were reported in
2005, 2006, 2012 and 2017. A BSE case was reported in 2018 in Florida, making it the sixth recorded case
in the United States since 2003 (USDA 2020). No cases have been reported in the State of Iowa.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal, neurological disease of farmed and wild deer and elk. The
disease has been identified in wild and captive mule deer, white-tailed deer, and North American elk, and
in captive black-tailed deer. The first case of CWD in Iowa was found in 2012 on a hunting preserve in the
southeastern part of the State.
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Virulent Newcastle disease (vND), formally known as Exotic Newcastle disease (END), is a contagious
and fatal viral disease affecting all species of birds. There was an epidemic of vND in California in 2003
that is resulting in the death of millions of chickens and other birds, and costing millions of dollars. vND is
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probably one of the most infectious diseases of poultry in the world. vnD is so virulent that many birds die
without showing any clinical signs. As of June 1, 2020, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Services, certified that the United States has eradicated vND from poultry, satisfying the World
Organization for Animal Health criteria for eradication of the disease (USDA APHIS 2020).
Johne’s (yo-knees) disease is a contagious, chronic, and eventually fatal infection that affects the small
intestine of ruminants, including cattle, sheep, and goats. Johne’s, also called Para tuberculosis, is a slow
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progressive wasting disease with an incubation period of usually two or more years. Johne’s is a
reportable disease, but not a quarantinable disease.
Pseudo rabies is a viral disease most prevalent in swine, often causing newborn piglets to die. Older pigs
can survive infection, becoming carriers of the pseudo rabies virus for life. Other animals infected from
swine die from pseudo rabies, which is also known as Aujeszky's disease and "mad itch." Infected cattle
and sheep can first show signs of pseudo rabies by scratching and biting themselves. In dogs and cats,
pseudo rabies can cause sudden death. The virus does not cause illness in humans. Due to an extensive
eradication program, Iowa and the rest of United States are free of pseudo rabies.
Scrapie is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the central nervous system of sheep and goats that is
very similar to BSE (mad cow disease), although it does not cause disease in humans, and has been
present in the U.S. for over 50 years. Infected flocks that contain a high percentage of susceptible animals
can experience significant production losses. In these flocks, over a period of several years, the number of
infected animals increases and the age at onset of clinical signs decreases making these flocks
economically unviable. Animals sold from infected flocks spread scrapie to other flocks. The presence of
scrapie in the U.S. also prevents the export of breeding stock, semen, and embryos to many other
countries. Currently there is a national program underway to eradicate scrapie in the U.S.
Disease outbreaks can also occur in wild animal populations. The IDALS’s Bureau of Animal Industry also
monitors wild animal species and game throughout the State as well as diseases that may impact them.
Crop Pests/Diseases
A plant disease outbreak or a pest infestation could negatively impact crop production and agriculturally
dependent businesses. An extreme outbreak or infestation could potentially result in billions of dollars in
production losses. The cascading net negative economic effects could result in widespread business
failures, reduction of tax revenues, harm to other state economies, and diminished capability for this
country to compete in the global market.
Many factors influence disease development in plants, including hybrid/variety genetics, plant growth
stage at the time of infection, weather (e.g., temperature, rain, wind, hail, etc.), single versus mixed
infections, and genetics of the pathogen populations. The two elements of coordination and
communication are essential when plant diseases or pest infestations occur. The United States
Department of Agriculture/ Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, IDALS, local producers, local
government, assessment teams, and state government entities must work together to effectively diagnose
the various plant hazards to determine if immediate crop quarantine and destruction is required.
Iowa State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has The Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic
that provides diagnosis of plant problems (plant diseases, insect damage, and assessment of herbicide
damage) and the identification of insects and weeds from the field, garden, and home. Specific plant pests
can vary from year to year.
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Emerald Ash Borer
The HMPT is also aware of the emerald ash borer pest that threatens Iowa’s forests. This pest is a slender,
emerald green beetle that is ½ inch long, and responsible for the destruction of millions of ash trees
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across the U.S. and Canada.
Wildlife
Iowa farmers lose a significant amount of crops each year as a result of wildlife foraging. This can be
particularly problematic in areas where natural habitat has been diminished or in years where weather
patterns such as early/late frost deep snow, or drought has caused the wild food sources to be limited.
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Location
All of Taylor County is subject to animal/livestock incidents and agricultural infestations. There were 667
farm the County that cover 288,530 acres. Agricultural infestation of crops or livestock in the planning
area would severely affect the economy.
As can be seen in the USDA Cropland Data Layer (CDL) in Figure 3-4, the majority of land in Taylor County
outside the incorporated areas is in agricultural use, with primary crops of soybeans, and corn.
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According to the IDALS, Pesticide Bureau, there are six sites on the Sensitive Crops Registry Report for
pesticide applicators to avoid. Figure 3-5 provides the location of the sites included on the Sensitive Crops
Registry according to the IDALS, Pesticide Bureau. The crops include vegetables, as well as beehives
(IDALS).
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Source: Iowa Specialty Crop Site Registry, https://ia.driftwatch.org/map
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Historical Occurrences
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Avian Influenza, or bird flu, was detected in Iowa in the spring of 2015. At the time that this plan was
written in the summer of 2015, 70 farm facilities have been affected in 18 counties, resulting in 32.7
million affected chickens or turkeys in Iowa (IDALS 2015). On May 1, 2015, Governor Branstad declared a
state of emergency. The last positive flock was detected on June 16, 2015. There were no reported
infected flocks in Taylor County. In Taylor County, Iowa Cagefree’s Clearfield operations has about 1.2
million chickens. In May 2015, as a precautionary measure, the Taylor County Board of Supervisors closed
the road in front of the facility to prevent the spread of bird flu to Iowa Cagefree’s operations there.
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) (A.K.A. Mad Cow Disease)
To date, BSE has been confirmed in Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Japan,
Canada, and the United States. In the United States, the first positive BSE cow was discovered in
Washington. As a result of a surveillance program from June 2004 to March 2006, two additional positive
domestic cows were found; one each in Texas and Alabama. Since 1997 FDA implemented a feed ban
prohibiting the feeding of feedstuff derived from ruminants to other ruminants. The results of this ban
and enhanced surveillance indicate that while BSE is present, it is at an extremely low level in U.S. cattle.
Chronic Wasting Disease
The first case of CWD in Iowa was found in 2012 on a hunting preserve in the southeastern part of the
State. In that case, it was determined the CWD-positive mature buck had been transferred to the hunting
preserve from a deer farm in north central Iowa. Subsequent testing found CWD at the deer farm. The
farm was placed under quarantine, but the owners sued for compensation. The litigation prevented the
farm from being depopulated of deer until August 2014. Iowa Department of Natural Resources collects
samples from deer hunters and conducts testing for CWD. A total of 68,878 samples were collected
between 2002 and the 2018/19 hunting season statewide; 267 samples were collected in Taylor County in
this time period (IDNR 2019). No positive cases have been found in Taylor County in 2020. In samples
collected between 2013 and 2020 from wild deer populations found 111 positives in the State. A majority
of the positive cases were found in the State Department of Natural Resources established deer
management zones.
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Scrapie
There has been a total of 77 sheep flocks in Iowa that have been found to be infected with scrapie since
the accelerated national Scrapie Eradication Program started in November 2001. In fiscal year 2005, Iowa
had a high of 15 newly infected flocks. The number of new infected flocks has been decreasing since that
time. Iowa’s last infected flock was found in June 2010. There were no infected herd identified in the
United States in 2020 (USDA 2020).
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
As of August 2021, 84 counties in Iowa had confirmed EAB within their boundaries since 2010. Between
2010 and 2018, EAB was confirmed in Taylor County.
Figure 3-7 Iowa Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Infestation Status, August 2021
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency, during the 14-year period
from 2006-2020, combined crop insurance payments for damages resulting from insects, plant disease,
and wildlife totaled $402,033. Table 3-16 provides a summary of insured crop losses as a result of crop
infestations
Table 3-16 Table Crop Insurance Payments for Crop Pests/Diseases 2006-2020
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was determined that the probability of this defined “occurrence” of agricultural infestation is “Unlikely”.
Probability Score: 1—Unlikely
Table 3-17 provides the top livestock inventory items in Taylor County and the State rank for each
according to USDA – National Agriculture Statistics Service, 2017 Census of Agriculture.
Livestock Inventory
Sales ($1,000) Ranking in State
Cattle and Calves 20,885 63
Hogs and Pigs 16,915 78
Poultry and Eggs 5,709 40
Sheep, Goats, Woold, Mohair, Milk 86 76
Horses, Ponies, Mules, Burros, Donkeys 55 55
Source: USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service; 2017 Census of Agriculture
In addition to the animal farm operations, there are also confined and open feeding operations in Taylor
County. According to data from the Iowa Natural Resources Geographic Information System (NRGIS)
Repository, there are 49 Confined Animal Feeding Operations and five open feedlots in Taylor County.
Crop Extent
According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, in 2017 Taylor County’s top crop items included the
following:
• Soybeans for beans, 84,768 acres harvested
• Corn for grain, 80,441 acres harvested
• Forage (hay/haylage), all, 16,421 acres harvested
• Wheat for grain, all, (D) (withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations)
• Corn for silage or greenchop, 392 acres harvested
Severity of Impact
Animal health emergencies can take many forms: disease epidemics, large-scale incidents of feed and
water contamination, extended periods without adequate water, harmful exposure to chemical,
radiological, or biological agents, and large-scale infestations of disease-carrying insects or rodents, to
name a few. One of the principal dangers of disease outbreaks is that they can rapidly overwhelm the
animal care system. However, state, and federal animal health programs have been very successful in
preventing or limiting the scope and magnitude of animal emergencies. If all of these safeguards failed, a
disease outbreak might cause injury, illness, or major property damage (in the form of agricultural losses).
Critical facilities and emergency services could be shut down or overwhelmed for more than 24 hours.
Speed of Onset
The private practitioner is the first line of defense and will undoubtedly be the first to witness the
symptoms of animal/crop/plant diseases. The United States Department of Agriculture monitors reports
submitted by veterinarians and labs to identify patterns. The department is proactive in providing
information to the agricultural community on medical concerns. Conditions related to scope and
magnitude can escalate quickly in certain circumstances, but farmers would be given at least a 24-hour
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notice.
Magnitude Score: 4—Catastrophic
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Warning Time Score: 4—minimal or no warning time
Duration Score: 4—more than 1 week
season moisture will create favorable conditions for invasive species, insect pests and diseases for both
crops and livestock.
The climate change impacts below are excerpted from the 2010 Report on Climate Change Impacts on
Iowa developed by the Iowa Climate Change Impacts Committee.
Crops
Despite great improvements in yield potential over the last several years, crop production remains highly
dependent on climate in conjunction with other variables. The overall effect of climate change on crop
productivity in Iowa remains unclear, as positive climatic events could be overridden by the impacts of
poor management or genetics, or favorable management and genetics could override negative climate
events.
Regardless of these interactions, it is certain that climate changes will affect future crop production.
Greenhouse and growth chamber studies suggest increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) will
generally have a substantial positive effect on crop yields by increasing plant photosynthesis and biomass
accumulation.
Greater precipitation during the growing season has been associated with increased yields; however,
excessive precipitation early in the growing season adversely affects crop productivity. Waterlogged soil
conditions during early plant growth often result in shallower root systems that are more prone to
diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and drought stress later in the season.
An increase in temperature, especially during nighttime, reduces corn yield by shortening the time in
which grain is accumulating dry matter (the grain fill period). According to research, Iowa’s nighttime
temperatures have been increasing more rapidly than daytime temperatures.
The current changes in precipitation, temperature, wind speeds, solar radiation, dew-point temperatures,
and cloud cover imply less ventilation of crops and longer dew periods. Soybean plants in particular
readily absorb moisture, making harvest problematic. One adaptive approach to these conditions involves
farmers purchasing larger harvesting equipment to speed harvest, compensating for the reduced daily
time suitable for soybean harvest.
The recent extreme weather events involving greater intensity and amount of rainfall have increased the
erosive power of Iowa’s precipitation, resulting in significant erosion of topsoil. The impact of climate
change on the erosive force of precipitation in the U.S. is expected to increase by as much as 58%. These
rates are expected to increase exponentially as precipitation continues to rise.
Plant disease can also increase as temperature, soil wetness, and humidity increase as these conditions
favor the development of various plant diseases.
Animals
Despite the fact that Iowa ranks first in hog and fifth in cattle production nationwide, there is a lack of
information about the effects of climate change on animal production in Iowa. Nevertheless, our general
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knowledge and principles pertaining to livestock and extreme weather events are applicable to Iowa’s
changing climate conditions.
High temperatures have been shown to reduce summer milk production, impair immunological and
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digestive functions of animals, and increase mortality rates among dairy cattle.
In general, domestic livestock can adapt to gradual changes in environmental conditions; however,
extended periods of exposure to extreme conditions greatly reduce productivity and is potentially life
threatening.
Vulnerability
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People
A widespread infestation of animals/livestock and crops could impact the economic base of the County
and its communities. According to the USDA 2017 Census of Agriculture, Taylor County has 667 farms, 4%
change from the previous census in 2012.
Disease can exacerbate the impacts from other hazards, and an example of this is adverse weather; dead
branches weakened by EAB can be broken by high winds, and there are reports of these branches falling
and causing harm to people.
Property
Buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities are not vulnerable to this hazard. Its impacts are primarily
economic and environmental, rather than structural effects.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Animal, crop, or plant disease is not expected to have any impacts on critical facilities or infrastructure.
Economy
According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, in 2019 there were 678 jobs (full-time and part-time)
related to farming in Taylor County. Of the individuals employed in the County (344) 11.5 percent of
Taylor County’s total workforce are employed in the agricultural industry (ACS 2019). These ag-related
jobs include farm owners, farm laborers, crop and livestock consultants, veterinarians, feed suppliers, food
processors, farm machinery operators and fertilizer manufacturers. The largest portion of the ag-related
jobs is involved directly in agricultural production. A widespread infestation of animals/livestock and crops
could impact the economic base of the County.
In 2017 the total market value of Taylor County’s agricultural products sold was $128,026,000. With this
contribution of agriculture to the economy, a wide scale agricultural infestation could severely impact the
economic stability of the County.
Rough estimates of potential direct losses from a maximum threat event fall in a range of 1-75 percent of
livestock receipts. The market value of all livestock in Taylor County in 2017 was $43,721,000. Based on a
worst-case scenario where 75 percent of livestock is lost in a given year due to agricultural infestations,
the total direct costs could exceed $32 million.
Rough estimates of potential direct losses from a maximum threat event fall in a range of 1-50 percent of
annual crop receipts. The market value of all crops sold in Taylor County in 2017 was $84,304,000. Based
on a worst-case scenario where 50 percent of crop production is lost in a given year due to agricultural
infestations, the total direct costs could exceed $42 million.
The U.S. Forest Service estimates that Taylor County has 5,000 to 50,000 ash trees in the County. Removal
of debris if an infestation would occur would be challenging and costly. If only 10 percent of the ash trees
in Taylor County were impacted that could translate to 500 to 5,000. It is estimated that it costs $682 to
replace each ash tree. In Taylor County, this translates to over $3.4 to $34 million.
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Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
Invasive species typically harm native species through predation, habitat degradation and competition for
shared resources; they can muscle native species out of natural habitats and are a leading cause of
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population decline and extinction in animals.
Development Trends
Future development is not expected to significantly impact the planning area’s vulnerability to this hazard.
However, if crop production and numbers of animals/livestock increases, the amount vulnerable to
infestation also increases. Regarding the EAB, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources recommends
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that other native tree species be planted in lieu of ash trees to avoid increasing vulnerability to infestation
of the EAB.
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2 3 4 3 2.7 Moderate
Hazard Profile/Description
Cyber attacks use malicious code to alter computer operations or data. The vulnerability of computer
systems to attacks is a growing concern as people and institutions become more dependent upon
networked technologies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reports that, “cyber intrusions are
becoming more commonplace, more dangerous, and more sophisticated,” with implications for private-
and public-sector networks. Cyber threats can take many forms, including:
• Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are fraudulent communications that appear to come from
legitimate sources. Phishing attacks typically come through email but may come through text
messages as well. Phishing may also be considered a type of social engineering meant to exploit
employees into paying fake invoices, providing passwords, or sending sensitive information.
• Malware attacks: Malware is malicious code that may infect a computer system. Malware typically
gains a foothold when a user visits an unsafe site, downloads untrusted software, or may be
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downloaded in conjunction with a phishing attack. Malware can remain undetected for years and
spread across an entire network.
• Ransomware: Ransomware typically blocks access to a jurisdiction’s/agency’s/ business’ data by
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encrypting it. Perpetrators will ask for a ransom to provide the security key and decrypt the data,
although many ransomware victims never get their data back even after paying the ransom.
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack: Perhaps the most common type of cyber attack, a DDoS
attack seeks to overwhelm a network and causes it to either be inaccessible or shut down. A DDoS
typically uses other infected systems and internet connected devices to “request” information from a
specific network or server that is not configured or powerful enough to handle the traffic.
• Data breach: Hackers gaining access to large amounts of personal, sensitive, or confidential
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information has become increasingly common in recent years. In addition to networked systems, data
breaches can occur due to the mishandling of external drives.
• Critical Infrastructure/SCADA System attack: There have been recent critical infrastructure Supervisory
Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system attacks aimed at taking down lifelines such as power
plants and wastewater facilities. These attacks typically combine a form of phishing, malware, or other
social engineering mechanisms to gain access to the system.
Location
Cyber attacks can and have occurred in every location regardless of geography, demographics, and
security posture. Incidents may involve a single location or multiple geographic areas. A disruption can
have far-reaching effects beyond the location of the targeted system; disruptions that occur far outside
the State can still impact people, businesses, and institutions within the city. All servers in Taylor County
and participating jurisdictions are potentially vulnerable to cyber attacks. The geographic extent is
significant.
Historical Occurrences
The cybersecurity firm Symantec reports there were a total of 1,209 data breaches worldwide in 2016.
While the number of breaches has remained relatively steady, the average number of identities stolen has
increased to almost one million per incident. The report also found that one in every 131 emails contained
malware, and the company’s software blocked an average of 229,000 web attacks every day.
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, maintains a timeline of
9,741 data breaches resulting from computer hacking incidents in the United States from 2005-2019.
Attacks happening outside of the State can also impact local businesses, personal identifiable information,
and credit card information. Table 3-18 shows several of the more significant cyber attacks in Iowa in
recent years.
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2/18/2006 University of 6,000 A laptop computer holding W-2 forms of student employees
Northern Iowa and faculty was illegally accessed.
7/14/2006 University of Iowa 280 Laptop computer containing personal information of current
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(UI) and former MBA students was stolen.
9/29/2006 University of Iowa 14,500 A computer containing SSNs of 14,500 psychology
Department of department research study subjects was the object of an
Psychology automated attack designed to store pirated video files for
subsequent distribution.
2/14/2007 Iowa Department of 600 Up to 600 files of general equivalency diploma (GED).
Education recipients were viewed when the online database was hacked.
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numbers, and driver's license numbers of BVU applicants,
current and former students, parents, current and former
faculty and staff, alumni and donors. These records go back as
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7/22/2010 IDALS 3,404 A laptop containing personal information from Iowa residents
was stolen from a locked state vehicle. The computer was
encryption protected and contained names, addresses, phone
numbers and Social Security numbers. Iowa residents who
participate in the Iowa Horse and Dog Breeding Program were
notified.
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9/21/2010 Pediatric and Adult 19,222 Patients were notified that a backup tape with their personal
Allergy, PC information was lost on or around July 11. The patient
information included name, address, phone number, date of
birth, Social Security number, dates of service, services and
diagnoses. Medical records and financial information were not
on the backup tape.
4/8/2012 Contempo 330 A hacker or hackers accessed and posted sensitive Contempo
Enterprises, LLC Enterprises information online.
5/11/2012 Iowa Department of 3,000 Improper Disposal Business.
Human Services
5/12/2012 Warren County 3,000 Warren County residents had their names, Social Security
Iowa, Iowa numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and other information
Department of exposed. A fire destroyed a Warren County human services
Human Services office on December 4, 2011. Records from the location that
(DHS) were due to be shredded were moved to a secure facility
owned by Warren County. A county maintenance worker
mistakenly moved a container full of the damaged sensitive
records back to the destroyed building in early February of
2012. The mistake was discovered on March 14 when the
department received a call from a resident near the area who
found a DHS paper in her yard.
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personal information and direct deposit information of over a
dozen University of Iowa employees may have been exposed
through compromised employee computers and accounts.
Two sets of phishing emails were sent to nearly 2,000
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contained.
3/10/2014 Iowa Dept. of 2,042
Human Services
4/18/2014 VGM Homelink 1,400 Unauthorized Access/Disclosure.
4/22/2014 Iowa State University 29,780 Iowa State University has reported a data breach of one of
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Human Services
2/13/2018 Central Iowa 557 Unauthorized Access/Disclosure.
Hospital
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Corporation d/b/a
Blank Children's
Hospital
11/30/2018 UnityPoint Health 16,000 UnityPoint Health confirmed that its dealing with an
information breach that impacted patients.
3/29/2019 Thielen Student 599 Unauthorized Access/Disclosure.
Health Center
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A 2017 study found ransomware payments over a two-year period totaled more than $16 million. Even if a
victim is perfectly prepared with full offline data backups, recovery from a sophisticated ransomware
attack typically costs far more than the demanded ransom. However, according to a 2016 study by
Kaspersky Lab, roughly one in five ransomware victims who pay their attackers never recover their data.
Recent years have seen an increase in ransomware attacks, particularly against local government systems.
The City of Atlanta was hit by a major ransomware attack in 2018, recovery from which wound up costing
a reported $2.6 million, significantly more than the $52,000 ransom demand. A similar attack against the
City of Baltimore in 2019 affected the city government’s email, voicemail, property tax portal, water bill,
and parking ticket payment systems, and delayed more than 1,000 pending home sales. In March 2019,
Orange County, North Carolina was attacked with a ransomware virus, causing slowdowns and service
problems at key public offices such as the Register of Deeds, the Sheriff’s Office, and county libraries. The
attack impacted a variety of county services, including disrupting the County’s capability to process real
estate closings, issue marriage licenses, process fees or permits, process housing vouchers, and verify tax
bills.
A large, sophisticated malware attack, known as Olympic Destroyer, was launched against the 2018 Winter
Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The attack initially took down servers, email, Wi-Fi, and ticketing
systems, which could have severely disrupted the games. Fortunately, the organizing committee had a
robust cybersecurity group that was able to quickly restore most functions.
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Data breaches are often described in terms of the number of records or identities exposed. The largest
data breach ever reported occurred in August 2013, when hackers gained access to all three billion Yahoo
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accounts. The hacking incidents associated with Iowa in the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse database are of
a smaller scale, ranging from just 280 records to approximately 165,000, along with several cases in which
an indeterminate number of records may have been stolen.
Ransomware attacks are typically described in terms of the amount of ransom requested, or by the
amount of time and money spent to recover from the attack. One report from cybersecurity firm Emsisoft
estimates the average successful ransomware attack costs $81 million and can take 287 days to recover
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from. Cyber attacks can occur with little to no warning, although good cyber security practices can
increase the odds of early detection.
Vulnerability
People
Injuries or fatalities from cyber attacks would generally only be possible from a major cyber terrorist
attack against critical infrastructure. More likely impacts to the public are financial losses and an inability
to access systems such as public websites and permitting sites. Indirect impacts could include
interruptions to traffic control systems or other infrastructure.
Data breaches and subsequent identify thefts can have huge impacts on the public. The Internet Crime
Complaint Center (IC3) estimates that identity theft alone resulted in $2.7 billion in losses to businesses
and $149 million in losses to individuals.
Property
The vast majority of cyber attacks affect only data and computer systems and have minimal impact on
general property.
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The delivery of services can be impacted since governments rely to a great extent upon electronic delivery
of services. Most agencies rely on server backups, electronic backups, and remote options for Continuity
of Operations/Continuity of Government. Many departments in Taylor County have the option to move to
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a paper method including permitting, DMV services, payments to and from the County, and payroll.
However, access to documents on the network, OneDrive access, and other operations that require
collaboration across the County will be significantly impacted.
Economy
Economic impacts from a cyber attack can be debilitating. The cyber attack in 2018 that took down the
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City of Atlanta cost at least $2.5 million in contractor costs and an estimated $9.5 million additional funds
to bring everything back online. The attack in Atlanta took more than a third of the 424 software
programs offline and recovery lasted more than 6 months. The 2018 cyber attack on the Colorado
Department of Transportation (CDOT) cost an estimated $1.5 million. None of these statistics take into
account the economic losses to businesses and ongoing IT configuration to mitigate from a future cyber
attack.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
The vast majority of cyber incidents have little to no impact on historic, cultural or natural resources. A
major cyber terrorism attack could potentially impact the environment by triggering a release of a
hazardous materials, or by causing an accident involving hazardous materials by disrupting traffic control
devices.
Development Trends
Changes in development have no impact to the threat, vulnerability, and consequences of a cyber attack.
Cyber attacks can and have targeted small and large jurisdictions, multi-billion dollar companies, small
mom-and-pop shops, and individual citizens. The decentralized nature of the internet and data centers
means that the cyber threat is shared by all, regardless of new construction and changes in development.
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1 2 4 4 2.05 Moderate
Hazard Profile/Description
Many of Iowa’s community settlements were founded along rivers and streams due to their reliance on
water resources. Often, these streams or rivers later needed a dam for flood control or a reservoir for a
constant water source. A dam is defined as a barrier constructed across a watercourse for the purpose of
storage, control, or diversion of water. Dams are typically constructed of earth, rock, concrete, or mine
tailings. Dam failure is the uncontrolled release of impounded water resulting in downstream flooding,
affecting both life and property. Dam failure can be caused by any of the following: flooding; earthquakes;
flow blockages; landslides; lack of maintenance; improper operation; poor construction; vandalism; or
terrorism.
The thresholds for when a dam falls under State regulation are outlined in Iowa Administrative Code 567-
71.3 and are listed below. The thresholds are primarily based on both dam height and water storage
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volumes. State-regulated dams are those dams that meet the following:
In rural areas:
•
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Any dam designed to provide a sum of permanent and temporary storage exceeding 50 acre-feet at
the top of dam elevation, or 25 acre-feet if the dam does not have an emergency spillway, and which
has a height of 5 feet or more.
• Any dam designed to provide permanent storage in excess of 18 acre-feet and which has a height of
5 feet or more.
• Any dam across a stream draining more than 10 square miles.
• Any dam located within 1 mile of an incorporated municipality, if the dam has a height of 10 feet or
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more, stores 10 acre-feet or more at the top of dam elevation, and is situated such that the discharge
from the dam will flow through the incorporated area.
In urban areas:
• Any dam which exceeds the thresholds in 71.3 (1) “a”, “b”, or “d”.
Low head dams:
• Any low head dam on a stream draining 2 or more square miles in an urban area, or 10 or more
square miles in a rural area.
Dams are classified by the State of Iowa into three categories based on the potential risk to people and
property in the event of failure (see Table 3-19). The classification can change over time due to changes in
development downstream from the dam. In addition, older dams may not have been built to the
standards of their updated classification when this occurs. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources
performs annual inspections on all high hazard dams in the
State.
Location
Dams in Planning Area
There are 66 state-regulated dams inside the county boundaries of Taylor County. The state-regulated
dams are the same dams listed in the National Inventory of Dams. Of the 66 dams, none are High Hazard
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dams, three (3) are significant hazard dams, and the remaining 62 are low hazard dams. The significant
hazard dams and their main use in the County are as follows:
Bedford Water Supply Dam-Water Supply
•
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• Lake of Three Fires Dam-Recreation
• West Lenox Reservoir Dam-Water Supply
In addition to these significant hazard dams in Taylor County, there are hazardous dams upstream of
Taylor County in Adams County. There is one (1) High Hazard dam in Adams County, and there are four
(4) Significant Hazard dams in Adams County. These dams and their main use in Adams County are as
follows:
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Historical Occurrences
To determine previous occurrences of dam failure within Taylor County, the 2016 Taylor County Multi-
Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Iowa State Hazard Mitigation Plan, and the Stanford University’s
National Performance of Dams Program (https://npdp.stanford.edu/) were reviewed for historical dam
failures. The history of dam failure in Taylor County was also discussed with community officials. No
record of dam failure within Taylor County boundaries was identified.
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Warning Time Score: 4—Minimal or no warning (up to 6 hrs. warning)
Duration Score: 4—More than 1 week
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Climate Change Considerations
Many climate change studies have shown increases in precipitation extremes, especially in areas that are
usually cold and humid. This could lead to an increased strain on dams and levee systems, leading to a
higher chance of failure.
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Vulnerability Assessment
Taylor County has a total of 66 dams. 63 of these dams are low hazard dams and three are significant
hazard dams. The majority of dams in the County were built for the purpose of recreation or water supply.
There are an additional five significant or high hazard dams upstream of Taylor County. One of those
dams is a High Hazard classification and four are significant hazard classifications but pose a minimal risk
to downstream communities in Taylor County.
Dam failure is typically an additional or secondary impact of another disaster such as flooding or
earthquake. Additional details on the significant hazard dams are provided below:
used for a water supply source; however, it is no longer used for this purpose. Its last inspection was
completed on April 21, 2020, and it received a rating of “Fair”.
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Height: 25 feet
Length: 550 feet
Max Storage: 142-acre-feet
Year Built: 1913
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No inspection reports were available through Iowa DNR for the West Lenox Reservoir Dam.
According to the Iowa DNR, Dam Safety Program, inundations maps are not available for these dams to
quantify vulnerability of people and development in the unlikely event of failure.
People & Property
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In the event of failure of the significant hazard dams, the jurisdictions that would be impacted are the City
of Bedford, the City of Lenox, and the unincorporated county. Bedford and the unincorporated county
have assets downstream of the Bedford Water Supply Dam. In addition, Bedford could lose its water
supply in the event of failure of their water supply dam. The unincorporated county is also in the
inundation path of the Lake of Three Fires Dam and the West Lenox Reservoir Dam. The City of Lenox
could lose its water supply in the event of failure of their water supply dam. Based on the delimitation of
significant hazard dams, failure of these significant hazard dams could damage isolated homes or cabins,
industrial or commercial buildings, moderately traveled roads or railroads, interrupt major utility services,
but without substantial risk of loss of human life.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Figure 3-9 is a map of the critical facilities in Taylor County. Due to the lack of inundation maps for these
dams, it was not possible to quantify critical facilities impacted in the event of a dam failure.
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Economy
Economic impacts due to a dam or levee failure event will be related to both the event (i.e., damage to
containment structure) and the recovery after the event.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
A dam failure in Taylor County could damage agricultural land, property, and wash out roads. Historical
structures could be affected by flooding resulting from a dam failure. Since there are no inundation maps
available for these dams, it was not possible to quantify potential structure damages from a dam breach.
Development Trends
Increased growth and development can put more strain on dam and levee systems. While Taylor County is
at a low risk for dam or levee failure, development below dams or levees can create a higher risk for
property damage or loss of life in the event of a failure. Taylor County has seen a net decrease in
population since 2010 (-1.5%), and population growth is not a significant factor contributing to Taylor
County’s risk of dam failure.
Both of the largest cities in the County could lose their water supply if either of the water supply dams
failed. In addition, portions of unincorporated county land are in the inundation paths. The magnitude has
been determined to be 2, limited for these jurisdictions. The remaining jurisdictions are not impacted by
failure of the significant hazard dams in the County. However, if development occurs downstream of low
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hazard dams, dam failure could become a hazard of concern in these jurisdictions as well.
3.5.4 Drought
Hazard Score Calculation
4 3 1 4 3.25 High
Hazard Profile/Description
Drought is generally defined as a condition of moisture levels significantly below normal for an extended
period of time over a large area that adversely affects plants, animal life, and humans. There are four types
of drought conditions relevant to Iowa:
Meteorological drought is defined on the basis of the degree of dryness (in comparison to some
“normal” or average amount) and the duration of the dry period. A meteorological drought must be
considered as region-specific since the atmospheric conditions that result in deficiencies of precipitation
are highly variable from region to region.
Hydrological drought is associated with the effects of periods of precipitation (including snowfall)
shortfalls on surface or subsurface water supply (e.g., streamflow, reservoir and lake levels, ground water).
The frequency and severity of hydrological drought is often defined on a watershed or river basin scale.
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Although all droughts originate with a deficiency of precipitation, hydrologists are more concerned with
how this deficiency plays out through the hydrologic system. Hydrological droughts are usually out of
phase with or lag the occurrence of meteorological and agricultural droughts. It takes longer for
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precipitation deficiencies to show up in components of the hydrological system such as soil moisture,
streamflow, and ground water and reservoir levels. As a result, these impacts are out of phase with
impacts in other economic sectors.
Agricultural drought focus is on soil moisture deficiencies, differences between actual and potential
evaporation, reduced ground water or reservoir levels, and so forth. Plant water demand depends on
prevailing weather conditions, biological characteristics of the specific plant, its stage of growth, and the
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Although drought is not predictable, long-range outlooks may indicate an increased chance of drought,
which can serve as a warning. A drought period can last for months, years, or even decades. It is rarely a
direct cause of death, though the associated heat, dust and stress can all contribute to increased
mortality.
Location
The entire planning area in Taylor County is at risk to drought, although the agricultural areas are more
vulnerable to the immediate effects of drought. The map in Figure 3-4 in the Animal/Plant/Crop Disease
hazard section displays the locations of various cropland uses in Taylor County. According to the 2017
Census of Agriculture, of the 288,530 acres in Taylor County, 78 percent is cropland. There were 667 farms
with an average size of 433 acres per farm.
Historical Occurrences
Drought occurs periodically in Iowa with the most severe in historical times occurring in the 1930’s. Other
major droughts, usually characterized by deficient rainfall combined with unusually high summer
temperatures, occurred in 1886, 1893-1894, 1901, 1954-1956, 1976– 1977, 1988–1989, 1999, 2000, 2003,
2005, 2006, 2012-2013, 2017-2018. Historically droughts cause more economic damage to the State than
all other weather events combined.
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According to the NDMC’s Drought Impact Reporter, during the 10-year period from 2000 thru 2020,
Taylor County was included in eight listed drought impacts. In the same time period 195 of these impacts
reported affected the entire State of Iowa. The following are the categories and reported number of
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impacts. Note: some impacts have been assigned to more than one category:
• Agriculture – 6
• Business & Industry – 0
• Energy – 0
• Fire – 0
• Plant & Wildlife – 1
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• October 12, 2012: Iowa State University agriculture experts advised farmers to test forages for quality
this fall because variable nutrient levels and high nitrate levels can occur in forages grown during
drought.
• July 26, 2012: The Governor issued a disaster emergency proclamation that allowed for the
suspension of state laws and regulations affecting the transportation of hay and straw. In the
statement, it says, “the drought has destroyed or depleted sources of these products that are
necessary for livestock production and feed.”
• July 1-30, 2012: Very warm and dry weather that began in the spring continued into the summer.
Rainfall was in short supply across the State. Much of the State recorded less than 50 percent of
normal rainfall for July. Rapid deterioration of the corn and soybean crop took place with several
periods of temperatures in excess of 100 degrees. By the end of July, officials estimated that 32
percent of the corn yield had been lost to the drought. At the current price, the loss total was in
excess of $4.5 billion statewide.
• 2012: Governor Branstad created a website dedicated to the Iowa Drought 2012,
https://governor.iowa.gov/drought/ as a resource for all Iowans. This year’s drought damages
surpassed that of 1988.
• September 15, 2006 to October 20, 2006: Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns lengthened the time
allowed for emergency livestock grazing on land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in 30
states including Iowa for farmers and livestock owners who were affected by drought.
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• June-September 2005: Severe to extreme drought continued across the eastern third of Iowa. By the
end of August, the Governor of Iowa had requested areas south and east of a line from Dubuque, to
Independence, to Ottumwa be declared an agricultural disaster area. Soybean crop losses generally
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were estimated at a 10-15 percent reduction in yield across eastern Iowa.
• August 2003: Dry conditions that began in September 2002 continued through 2003, manifesting
into a moderate to severe drought at the start of August 2003 which is a crucial time for soybean
development and corn in filling out the ears with large kernels. According to the Iowa State
Climatologist, August 2003 was the driest on record with a statewide average of only 0.96 inches of
rainfall which was 3.23 inches below the normal for August.
August & September 2000: According to National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), crops were stressed
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•
with the warm temperatures and lack of rainfall. Livestock deaths occurred because of the daytime
heat and warm overnight temperatures.
Figure 3-10 below provided by the U.S. Drought Monitor, summarizes the historical drought conditions
for Taylor County by intensity and percent area from 2000 through October 2021. The County has
experienced periods of severe to extreme drought in 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2013-2014.
Figure 3-10 Historic Drought Intensity (Percent Area) Iowa 2004-October 2021
Taylor County was designated in three USDA Secretarial disaster declarations that included drought in
2012 – 2018 to make emergency loans available to producers suffering losses.
Table 3-20 USDA Disaster Designations for Drought, Taylor County, 2012-2018
Year Declaration
Number
2012 S3299
S3337
S3390
S3398
2013 S3460
S3614
2017 S4209
S4234
2018 S4358
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S4374
Source: USDA
According to the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, payments for insured crop losses in Taylor County as
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a result of drought conditions occurred in all ten years from 2006-2020 and totaled $28,805,587 (see
Table 3-21). With the extensive drought conditions during the years of 2012 and 2013, 95 percent of the
10-year crop losses came from those two years alone.
Paid
2006 - $236,222
2007 6,371 $662,658
2008 1,615 $254,215
2011 1,016 $22,474
2012 85,489 $18,175,771
2013 54,243 $7,075,392
2016 0 $3,734
2017 9,987 $915,057
2018 7,160 $706,215
2019 1,626 $120,107
2020 7,783 $633,742
Insurance Paid 175,290 $28,805,587
Source: USDA Risk Management Agency
drought conditions. Since precipitation levels cannot be predicted in the long-term, the following indices
can be used to determine the probability of future occurrences of drought.
The following are the indices:
• Palmer Z Index monitors short-term monthly moisture conditions when depart from normal.
• Palmer Drought Severity Index measures the duration and intensity of the long-term
(meteorological) drought patterns.
• Palmer Hydrological Drought Index measures long-term (hydrological) drought and wet conditions
reflecting groundwater and reservoir levels.
• Standardized Precipitation Index is an index that considers only precipitation that has fallen over
various time series. This is important to farmers to estimate soil moisture.
In the past 10 years, there have been six years with crop insurance claims as a result of drought in Taylor
County. If this trend continues, this results in a probability of 60% of agricultural impacts as a result of
drought in any given year. The probability rating for this hazard is “Highly Likely”.
Probability Score: 4—Highly Likely
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Those dependent on rain would be the most vulnerable during a drought. This means that agriculture,
agribusiness, and consumers would be impacted. A drought limits the ability to produce goods and
provide services. Because citizens draw their drinking water from groundwater sources, a prolonged
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severe drought may impact all citizens if there were to be a dramatic drop in the water table. Fire
suppression can also become a problem due to the dryness of the vegetation and possible lack of water.
Generally, a drought event may directly or indirectly impact 50-75% of people and property in Taylor
County. A prolonged drought would have a larger impact.
The U.S. Drought Monitor is included in Table 3-22 as an indication of the extent range for drought. All
ranges of drought severity could be experienced, though the droughts in the past 20 years typically range
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from moderate to severe and occasionally extreme based on the information provided in the Historic
Occurrences section.
D1- Moderate Some damage to crops, pastures; streams, reservoirs, or wells -2.0 to
Drought low, some water shortages developing or imminent; voluntary -2.9
water-use restrictions requested
D2- Severe Drought Crop or pasture losses likely; water shortages common; water -3.0 to
restrictions imposed -3.9
D3- Extreme Major crop/pasture losses; widespread water shortages or -4.0 to
Drought restrictions -4.9
D4- Exceptional Exceptional and widespread crop/pasture losses; shortages of -5.0 or less
Drought water in reservoirs, streams, and wells creating water
emergencies
Source: The NDMC, 2015
Severity of Impact
Drought in the U.S. seldom results directly in the loss of life. Deaths associated with drought are usually
related to a heat wave. Drought more directly affects agricultural crops, livestock, natural vegetation, and
stream flows that include fish and aquatic vegetation. Impacts are costly to the economy, environment,
and general population. Drought may cause short-term property damage until drought conditions
dissipate.
Speed of Onset
Drought warning is based on a complex interaction of many different variables, water uses, and consumer
needs. Drought warning is directly related to the ability to predict the occurrences of atmospheric
conditions that produce the physical aspects of drought, primarily precipitation and temperature. There
are so many variables that can affect the outcome of climatic interactions, and it is difficult to predict a
drought in advance. An area may already be in a drought before it is recognized. While the warning of the
drought may not come until the drought is already occurring, the secondary effects of a drought may be
predicted and warned against weeks in advance.
Magnitude Score: 3—Critical
Warning Time Score: 1—24+ Hours
Duration Score: 4—more than 1 week
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Climate Change Considerations
According to the Fourth National Climate Assessment, climate change impacts in the Midwest will include
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increased frequency of late-growing season drought conditions. Future conditions of surface soil moisture
is projected to increase in insufficient levels in summer driven by an increase in temperatures leading to
greater loss of moisture through evaporation (U.S. Global Change Research Program 2018).
Vulnerability
Overview
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Drought reduces agricultural productivity and causes a strain on urban water supplies. In Taylor County,
farmers bear the most direct stress from drought as wells may run dry; crops wilt and die, and forage for
livestock becomes scarce and costly. Taylor County has 639 farms in the County that cover 337,920 acres
of land. This translates to 82.5 percent of the surface land in the County being used for agriculture.
Therefore, the planning area has a high exposure to this hazard. Aside from agricultural impacts, other
losses related to drought include increased costs of fire suppression and damage to roads and structural
foundations due to the shrink dynamic of expansive soils during excessively dry conditions.
People
The historical and potential impacts of drought on populations include agricultural sector job loss,
secondary economic losses to local businesses and public recreational resources, increased cost to local
and state government for large-scale water acquisition and delivery, and water rationing and water wells
running dry for individuals and families. Drought also presents hazards to public health in extreme cases,
where drinking water production cannot keep up with demand. Water wells become less productive
during drought and a failure of remaining productive wells (due to power outage, etc.) can cause public
drinking water supplies to become compromised. Other public health issues in agricultural communities
can include mental health impacts due to economic losses.
Property
Areas associated with agricultural use are vulnerable to drought conditions which could result in a
decrease in crop production or a decrease in available grazing area for livestock. Drought has no real
effect on houses and buildings. The impacts would be minimal in terms of landscaping.
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Development Trends
Increases in acreage planted with crops would increase the exposure to drought-related agricultural
losses. In addition, increases in population add additional strain on water supply systems to meet the
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growing demand for treated water.
cities, the frequency of drought conditions would be the same, but the magnitude would be less with
lawns, landscaping, parks and local gardens affected. If drought conditions are severe and prolonged,
water supplies could also be affected.
3.5.5 Earthquake
Hazard Score Calculation
1 1 4 1 1.45 Low
Hazard Profile/Description
An earthquake is a sudden motion or trembling that is caused by a release of energy accumulated within
or along the edge of Earth’s tectonic plates. Earthquakes occur primarily along fault zones, tears in the
Earth's crust, along which stresses build until one side of the fault slips, generating compressive and shear
energy that produces the shaking and damage to the built environment. Heaviest damage generally
occurs nearest the epicenter which is that point on the Earth's surface directly above the point of fault
movement. The composition of geologic materials between these points is a major factor in transmitting
the energy to buildings and other structures on the Earth's surface.
Location
While geologists often refer to the Midwest as the "stable midcontinent," because of its lack of major
crustal movements, there are two regions of active seismicity, the Nemaha Ridge and the New Madrid
Fault Zone. The Nemaha Ridge in Kansas and Nebraska, associated with the Humboldt Fault, is
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characterized by numerous small earthquakes that release stresses before they build to dangerous levels.
The fault is not considered a threat to Iowa. The New Madrid Fault Zone, on the other hand, has greater
destructive potential. It is located along the valley of the Mississippi River, from its confluence with the
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Ohio River southward, and includes portions of Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and
Mississippi. The Earth's crust in the midcontinent is older, and therefore thicker, cooler, and more brittle
than that in California for example. Consequently, earthquake shock waves travel faster and farther in the
Midwest, making quakes here potentially more damaging than similar sized events in other geologic
settings.
Iowa counties are located in low risk zones as a whole. The southeastern part of the State is more at risk
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to earthquake effects from the New Madrid Fault Zone. Figure 3-11 shows the estimated effects of a 6.5
Richter magnitude earthquake scenario along the New Madrid Fault Zone. It suggests that Iowans in four
southeast counties could experience trembling buildings, some broken dishes and cracked windows,
movement and falling of small unstable objects, abrupt openings or closing doors, and liquids spilling
from open containers. About 29 other counties, from Page to Poweshiek to Muscatine, including Taylor
County, could experience vibrations similar to the passing of a heavy truck, rattling of dishes and
windows, creaking of walls, and swinging of suspended objects. These effects will vary considerably with
differences in local geology and construction techniques. There is also a minor fault in Southwest Iowa
located near Fremont County.
Figure 3-11 6.5 Magnitude Earthquake Scenario and Expected Intensity Levels, New Madrid
Fault Zone
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Source: http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/Browse/quakes/quakes.htm
Figure 3-12 shows the Seismic Hazard Map for the U.S. showing the probabilistic ground shaking (peak
ground acceleration) with a 2 percent probability of exceedance in a 50 year timeframe.
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Source: United States Geological Survey, https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/2018-long-term-national-seismic-hazard-map
Historical Occurrences
Iowa as a whole has experienced the effects of only a few earthquakes in the past two centuries. The
epicenters of 13 earthquakes have been located in the State. The majority have been along the Mississippi
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River, and none have been in central Iowa. The last earthquake to occur in Iowa was in the southwestern
Iowa town of Shenandoah in 2004. Since the early 1800s, 9 earthquakes have occurred outside of Iowa
but have impacted areas in the State. The most recent quakes were in the 1960s and occurred in Illinois
and Missouri. While more than 20 earthquakes have occurred in or impacted Iowa in the past 200 years,
they have not seriously affected Iowa. As of November 2021, no earthquakes have been reported in Taylor
County.
Figure 3-13 Probability of Magnitude 5.0 or greater within 100 Years – Taylor County
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Source: United States Geological Survey, http://geohazards.usgs.gov/eqprob/2009/ Note: Purple square is approximate location of Taylor County, IA
more energy than the amount associated with the preceding whole number value. The more recent
moment magnitude scale is based on the total moment release of the earthquake and is the scale more
commonly used by seismologists.
Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale
The effect of an earthquake on the Earth's surface is called the intensity. The intensity scale consists of a
series of certain key responses such as people awakening, movement of furniture, damage to chimneys,
and finally - total destruction. Although numerous intensity scales have been developed over the last
several hundred years to evaluate the effects of earthquakes, the one currently used in the United States is
the Modified Mercalli (MM) Intensity Scale. It was developed in 1931 by the American seismologists Harry
Wood and Frank Neumann. This scale, composed of 12 increasing levels of intensity that range from
imperceptible shaking to catastrophic destruction, is designated by Roman numerals. It does not have a
mathematical basis; instead, it is an arbitrary ranking based on observed effects.
The MM Intensity value assigned to a specific site after an earthquake has a more meaningful measure of
severity to the nonscientist than the magnitude because intensity refers to the effects actually
experienced.
The lower numbers of the intensity scale generally deal with the manner in which the earthquake is felt by
people. The higher numbers of the scale are based on observed structural damage. Structural engineers
usually contribute information for assigning intensity values of VIII or above.
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Severity of Impact
Most of Iowa is located in Seismic Zone 0, the lowest risk zone in the United States. Most structures in
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Iowa are not built to earthquake standards, but because of the relatively low magnitude of the possible
quake, property damage would likely be very minimal. The most vulnerable structures are those built on
poorly consolidated substrate, especially floodplain materials.
In general, peak ground acceleration (PGA) is a measure of the strength of ground movements. More
specifically, the PGA measures the rate in change of motion relative to the established rate of acceleration
due to gravity. According to the United States Geological Services, for Taylor County, the peak
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acceleration with a 2% probability of exceeding in 50 years is 2% g, which means the County is under a
very small threat in regard to earthquakes. Also, most of Iowa is located in Seismic Zone 0, which is the
lowest risk zone in the United States.
The strongest earthquake in Iowa occurred in Davenport in 1934 and resulted in only slight damage.
Estimated effects of a 6.5 Richter magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid Fault Zone suggests
Iowans in four southeast counties could experience trembling buildings, some broken dishes and cracked
windows. About 29 other counties, from Page to Polk to Muscatine, could experience vibrations similar to
the passing of a heavy truck, rattling of dishes, creaking of walls, and swinging of suspended objects. If an
earthquake were to occur, it would more than likely be felt in all of Taylor County.
Speed of Onset
Earthquake prediction is an inexact science. Even in areas that are well monitored with instruments, such
as California’s San Andreas Fault Zone, scientists only very rarely predict earthquakes.
Magnitude Score: 1—Negligible
Warning Time Score: 4—less than 6 hours
Duration Score: 1—less than 6 hours
Vulnerability
Overview
As discussed under the probability section, the probability of a 5.0 Magnitude or greater earthquake in
the next 100 years is very low. Although a damaging event is unlikely, the potential impacts could be
costly in the more urban areas of the County. Most structures in Taylor County are not built to withstand
earthquake shaking, but because of the relatively low magnitude of a possible quake, property damage
would likely be very minor damage.
People
The main impacts to Taylor County from a New Madrid Earthquake would be related to incoming
evacuees from areas more heavily damaged by the event. This could result in a shortage of short-term
lodging, such as hotel rooms and extended stay establishments. Depending on the magnitude of the
earthquake, shelters may be designated in Taylor County as evacuee shelter locations. If this occurred,
assistance would be coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)
between the State of Iowa and State governments of impacted areas.
Property
Most structures in Taylor County are not built to withstand earthquake shaking, but because of the
relatively low magnitude of a possible quake, property damage would likely be very minor damage.
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Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical facilities are potentially vulnerable to an earthquake event, but anticipated impacts are likely to be
minor and mostly to be to non-structural items.
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Economy
Economic impacts due to an earthquake event will be related to both the event and the recovery after the
event and are expected to be minor.
Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
Historical and cultural buildings are vulnerable to the shaking of an earthquake and would likely suffer
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Development Trends
Overall, the planning area has a low vulnerability to earthquake risk. Future development is not expected
to increase the risk other than contributing to the overall exposure of what could become damaged as a
result of an unlikely event.
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4 1 1 3 2.55 Moderate
Hazard Profile/Description
According to FEMA, extreme heat is defined as a long period (2 to 3 days) of high heat and humidity with
temperatures above 90 degrees. Ambient air temperature is one component of heat conditions, with
relative humidity being the other. The relationship of these factors creates what is known as the apparent
temperature. The Heat Index Chart in Figure 3-14 uses both of these factors to produce a guide for the
apparent temperature or relative intensity of heat conditions.
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During these conditions, the human body has difficulties cooling through the normal method of the
evaporation of perspiration. Health risks rise when a person is over exposed to heat. Heatstroke,
sunstroke, cramps, exhaustion, and fatigue are possible with prolonged exposure or physical activity due
to the body’s inability to dissipate the heat. Urban areas are particularly at risk because of air stagnation
and large quantities of heat absorbing materials such as streets and buildings. Extreme heat can also
result in distortion and failure of structures and surfaces such as roadways and railroad tracks.
According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 702 heat related
deaths occurred annually between 2004 and 2018 (Vaidyanathan 2020). One of the most dangerous
places to be is in a home with little or no air conditioning. Extreme heat can impose stress on humans and
animals. Heatstroke, sunstroke, cramps, exhaustion, and fatigue are possible with prolonged exposure or
physical activity due to the body’s inability to dissipate the heat. Urban areas are particularly at risk
because of air stagnation and large quantities of heat absorbing materials such as streets and buildings.
Extreme heat can also result in distortion and failure of structures and surfaces such as roadways and
railroad tracks. Those at greatest risk for heat related illness include people 65 years of age and older,
people who are overweight, and people who are ill or on certain medications. However, even young and
healthy individuals are susceptible if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. In
agricultural areas, the exposure of farm workers, as well as livestock, to extreme heat is a major concern.
Location
As extreme heat events are largely a regional occurrence, it can be assumed that the entire planning area
would be subjected to an extreme heat event simultaneously and all participating jurisdictions would be
affected. There could be minimal, localized variations in temperature throughout the County, such as
higher temperatures in urban areas.
Historical Occurrences
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According to information obtained from the NWS for Taylor County Zone on the Iowa Environmental
Mesonet, Iowa State University Department of Agronomy website, there have been a combined 72
excessive heat advisories, watches, and warnings between 2005 and September 30, 2021. These events are
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summarized in Table 3-23 below. The greatest number of heat related notices in a given year was 2011,
with four advisories, three warnings, and two watches. Historic data tells us that extreme heat is a fairly
common occurrence in Taylor County.
Table 3-23 Number of Heat Advisories, Watches, and Warnings, 2005-2020 Taylor County Zone
Figure 3-15 provides the daily maximum temperatures for the Bedford, Iowa weather station for the
period of record from 1950 to 2020 from the High Plains Regional Climate Center. Data from the High
Plains Regional Climate Center show that a temperature of 106 °F was reached in 1954 as the highest
recorded temperature during the 70-year timeframe. The months of the year with the highest
temperatures are generally July and August.
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Source: High Plains Regional Climate Center, Station Data Explorer
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The NCEI reported four regional heat and excessive heat events in and around Taylor County during the
period from 2000 to 2020. The heat event of record occurred July 15-28, 2011. Temperatures rose into the
90s each day, but it was the dewpoint and overnight lows that were very significant. Low temperatures
during most of the nights were in the 70s, with many of the nights in the mid to upper 70s. These
conditions caused considerable stress on livestock. Statewide reports indicated that at least 4,000 head of
cattle and thousands of turkeys were killed by the suffocating heat. Livestock losses were estimated in the
$5 to $10 million dollar range. In Taylor County specifically, NCEI records indicate this event resulted in
approximately $135,000 of property damage.
80-90° F (HI) Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity
90-105° F (HI) Sunstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical
activity
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Severity of Impact
Extreme heat has broad impacts for Taylor County. On the whole, many communities in Taylor County
have learned to adapt to extreme heat and periods of hot weather during the summer months through
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the use of air-conditioned spaces, which makes the severity of extreme heat for Taylor County low, as long
as people have access to a cool place. However, extreme heat spells can and do result in serious injury or
death. One negative impact of air conditioning is that it increases demand for electricity, which can
outstrip supply and cause city infrastructure to fail. These types of incidents, however, can usually be
resolved in less than four hours.
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Regarding agriculture, livestock and other animals can become stressed and adversely impacted by
extreme heat. High temperatures at the wrong time can also inhibit crop yields. The demand for water
increases sharply during periods of extreme heat, which may contribute to fire suppression problems for
both urban and rural fire departments. In extreme cases, transportation impacts include the loss of lift for
aircrafts, softening of asphalt roads, buckling of highways and railways, and stress on automobiles and
trucks (increase in mechanical failures).
Speed of Onset
As with other weather phenomena, periods of extreme heat are predictable. Variations in local conditions
can affect the actual temperature within a matter of hours or even minutes. The National Weather Service
(NWS) will initiate alert procedures when the HI is expected to exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit for at least
two consecutive days.
Magnitude/Severity Score: 1-Negligible
Warning Time Score: 1—More than 24 hours warning time
Duration Score: 3—Less than one week
• Long-term winter temperatures have increased six times more than summer temperatures.
• Nighttime temperatures have increased more than daytime temperatures since 1970.
• Iowa’s humidity has risen substantially, especially in summer, which now has 13 percent more
atmospheric moisture than 35 years ago as indicated by a 3 – 5-degree Fahrenheit rise in dew-point
temperature. This fuels convective thunderstorms that provide more summer precipitation.
Each of these changes could have direct impacts on human health in terms of heat related illness. With
the general trend of increased warming of average temperatures, extreme high temperatures will likely
increase as well. Cascading impacts include increased stress on water quantity and quality, degraded air
quality, and increased potential for more severe or catastrophic natural events such as heavy rain,
droughts, and wildfire. Another cascading impact includes increased duration and intensity of wildfires
with warmer temperatures.
Vulnerability
Elderly people, small children, chronic invalids, those on certain medications or drugs (especially
tranquilizers and anticholinergics), and persons with weight and alcohol problems are particularly
susceptible to heat reactions. Healthy individuals working outdoors in the sun and heat are vulnerable as
well. Individuals and families with low budgets as well as inner city dwellers can also be susceptible due to
poor access to air-conditioned housing. Generally, more than 75% of people and property in Taylor
County are affected when this type of hazard occurs.
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Vulnerability Score: 4 – Greater than 75% of people and property affected
People
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The impacts of extreme heat on health are a consideration in evaluating the overall vulnerability of Taylor
County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2019 American Community Survey estimates, approximately
22% of Taylor County residents are over the age of 65. Traditionally, the very young and very old are
considered at higher risk to the effects of extreme heat, but any populations outdoors exposed, including
otherwise young and healthy adults and homeless populations, are at risk of adverse health impacts.
Arguably, the young-and-otherwise-healthy demographic may be more exposed and experience a higher
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vulnerability because of the increased likelihood that they will be out in the extreme temperature
deviation, whether due to commuting for work or school, conducting property maintenance, working in
the agricultural sector, or for recreational reasons.
Property
Recent research indicates that the impact of extreme heat has been historically under-represented. The
risks of extreme temperatures are often profiled as part of larger hazards, such as drought. However, as
temperature variances may occur outside of larger hazards or outside of the expected seasons but still
incur large costs, it is important to examine them as stand-alone hazards. Extreme heat may overload
demands for electricity to run air conditioners in homes and businesses during prolonged periods of
exposure and presents health concerns to individuals outside in the temperatures.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Prolonged heat exposure can have significant impacts on infrastructure. Another type of infrastructure
damage that can occur as a result of extreme heat is road damage. Prolonged high heat exposure
increases the potential of pavement deterioration, as well as railroad warping or buckling. As mentioned
above, high heat also puts a strain on energy systems and consumption, as air conditioners are run at a
higher rate and for longer. Extreme heat can also reduce transmission capacity over electric systems.
Economy
Extreme heat impacts on the economy may be more indirect compared to other hazards. 11.5% of all
employment in Taylor County is in the agriculture sector. As noted previously outdoor laborers who are
exposed to extreme heat are at a high risk of heat related illnesses, and a long-term heat event could
cause work interruptions. Crops are also impacted by heat events and could have an impact on the overall
economy in the County. According to the USDA RMA Indemnity Report, since 2007 there have been 2,315
acres of plantings lost to heat resulting in $325,874 in indemnity payments due to insured crop loss. There
is an estimated $25,067 of annualized crop loss due to heat.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
Extreme heat may cause temporary drought-like conditions. For example, several weeks of extreme heat
increases evapotranspiration and reduces moisture content in vegetation, leading to higher wildfire
vulnerability for that time period even if the rest of the season is relatively moist.
Development Trends
Since Taylor County is not experiencing large population growth, the number of people vulnerable to
extreme heat is not increasing. Structures are not usually directly impacted by extreme heat; therefore,
continued development is less impacted by this hazard than others in the plan.
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Jurisdiction Probability Magnitude Warning Duration Weighted Level
/Severity Time Score
1 1 1 1 1 Low
Hazard Profile/Description
Soils and swelling bedrock contain clay which causes the material to increase in volume when exposed to
moisture and shrink as it dries. They are also commonly known as expansive, shrinking and swelling,
bentonitic, heaving, or unstable soils and bedrock. In general, the term refers to both soil and bedrock
contents although the occurrence of the two materials may occur concurrently or separately. Soils and
soft rock that tend to swell or shrink excessively due to changes in moisture content are commonly known
as expansive soils. The effects of expansive soils are most prevalent in regions of moderate to high
precipitation, where prolonged periods of drought are followed by long periods of rainfall. The hazard
occurs in many parts of the southern, central, and western United States. Estimates conducted in 1980 put
the annual damage from expansive soils as high as $7 billion, with single-family and commercial buildings
accounting for nearly one-third of the total damage amount. (Krohn and Slosson, 1980). However,
because the hazard develops gradually and seldom presents a threat to life, expansive soils have received
limited attention, despite their costly effects. Expansive soils can also contribute to or cause damage to
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roadways, bridges, pipelines, and other infrastructure
The clay materials in swelling soils are capable of absorbing large quantities of water and expanding 10
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percent or more as the clay becomes wet. The force of expansion is capable of exerting pressures of
15,000 pounds per square foot or greater on foundations, slabs, and other confining structures. (Ibid., p
17.) The amount of swelling (or potential volume of expansion) is linked to five main factors: the type of
mineral content, the concentration of swelling clay, the density of the materials, moisture changes in the
environment, and the restraining pressure exerted by materials on top of the swelling soil. Each of these
factors impact how much swelling a particular area will experience, but may be modified, for better or
worse, by development actions in the area.
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• Low: This soils class includes sands and silts with relatively low amounts of clay minerals. Sandy clays
may also have low expansion potential if the clay is kaolinite. Kaolinite is a common clay mineral.
• Moderate: This class includes silty clay and clay textured soils, if the clay is kaolinite, and also includes
heavy silts, light sandy clays, and silty clays with mixed clay minerals.
• High: This class includes clays and clay with mixed montmorillonite, a clay mineral which expands and
contracts more than kaolinite.
Location
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the northwest section of the State has the highest
probability of the incidence of expansive soils. That risk is rated as “less than 50 percent of the soil being
of the expansive clay” variety. Figure 3-16 below shows the presence of soils with swelling potential
throughout the U.S. Figure 3-17 below shows the same information specific to the State of Iowa.
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Source: Iowa State Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2018
Note: Taylor County approximate location shown in red square.
As shown above, the entirety of Taylor County is within the area that potentially contains less than 50%
soils with abundant clays of slight to moderate swelling potential. Based on this information, expansive
soils are estimated to affect a limited portion of the planning area.
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Historical Occurrences
Very little data exists on expansive soil problems and past damages in Taylor County. Studies on the issue
have not been performed and no database exists to catalog occurrences. Damages due to expansive soils
such as foundation cracks, parking lot/sidewalk cracks, etc. may occur but are generally handled by
individual property owners and insurance. Other damages to supply lines, roads, railways, bridges, and
power lines typically occur over time and are not attributed to or reported as an event. There have been
no recorded incidences of disaster associated specifically to expansive soils.
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Climate Change Considerations
Many soils and rocks have the potential to swell or expand based on a combination of its mineralogy and
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water content. The actual swelling of expansive soils will be caused by a change in the environment (e.g.,
water content, stress, chemistry, or temperature) in which the material exists. More extremes in climate
conditions (e.g., wet-dry conditions), could potentially exacerbate the swelling of expansive soil issues in
the future, albeit the results would likely be negligible.
Vulnerability
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People
The impacts of expansive soils do not typically result in death or injury to residents and visitors of the
County. While maps show that the entirety of the County is somewhat susceptible to expansive soils, this
is currently not a hazard that has had an impact on Taylor County.
Property
While the entire planning area is vulnerable to some structural damage as a result of shrinking and
expanding soils, there is no data available to determine damage estimates for this hazard and as a whole,
the planning area does not have soils with high swelling potential. Damage from these soils that do exist
in the County will typically be isolated events, which will cause damage to a small number of buildings or
road segments over time but does not often cause complete damage or structure loss.
As mentioned throughout this chapter, the majority of this hazard’s significance is drawn from the
exposure of existing development to soils with swelling potential. There is limited extent of this hazard
throughout Taylor County. Nonetheless, older construction may not be resistant to swelling soil
conditions and, therefore, may experience expensive and potentially extensive damages. This includes
heaving sidewalks, structural damage to walls and basements, the need to replace windows and doors, or
dangers and damages caused by ruptured pipelines.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Expansive soils are capable of causing damage such as stress fractures and surface cracking on roads and
sidewalks. Damage could also be inflicted to foundations of structures, including critical facilities. As
mentioned throughout this chapter, there is no record of significant damage resulting from expansive
soils in Taylor County, including to critical facilities.
Economy
The main economic impact of expansive soils is drawn from repair costs to address physical damages.
Most of these impacts are covered by private insurance and do not typically result in widespread losses
requiring outside aid.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
Expansive soils are a natural geological process which do not result in negative impacts to the
environment and natural resources. Certain historic and cultural resources which may be older and built to
less stringent building and engineering codes may be more vulnerable to the impacts of expansive soils.
Development Trends
The most effective mitigation actions for expansive soil are complete avoidance or non-conflicting use, or
correct engineering design. Modern building practices incorporate mitigation techniques, such as
foundation design, adequate drainage, landscaping, and appropriate interior finishing, provided proper
geotechnical testing is employed to identify expansive soils. If areas prone to expansive soils are
identified, future areas for development will need to take this hazard into account. Due to mitigation with
new development and generally low rates of development losses are not expected to increase with this
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hazard.
Bedford 1 1 1 1 1 Low
Blockton 1 1 1 1 1 Low
Clearfield 1 1 1 1 1 Low
Conway 1 1 1 1 1 Low
Gravity 1 1 1 1 1 Low
Lenox 1 1 1 1 1 Low
New Market 1 1 1 1 1 Low
Sharpsburg 1 1 1 1 1 Low
3.5.8 Flooding
Hazard Score Calculation – Flash Flooding
4 1 2 1 2.50 Moderate
4 2 1 4 2.95 Moderate
Hazard Profile/Description
Flooding can be broken into two main categories: Riverine Flooding and Flash Flooding.
Riverine flooding is defined as the overflow of rivers, streams, drains, and lakes due to excessive rainfall,
rapid snowmelt or ice melt. The areas adjacent to rivers and stream banks that carry excess floodwater
during rapid runoff are called floodplains. A floodplain is defined as the lowland and relatively flat area
adjoining a river or stream. The terms “base flood”, “100-year flood”, and “1% Annual Chance” refer to the
area in the floodplain that is subject to a one percent or greater chance of flooding in any given year.
Floodplains are part of a larger entity called a basin, which is defined as all the land drained by a river and
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its branches.
Flash Flooding is a flood event that occurs with little to no warning where water levels rise at an extremely
fast rate. Flash flooding results from intense rainfall over a brief period, sometimes combined with rapid
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snowmelt, ice jam release, frozen ground, saturated soil, or impermeable surfaces.
Most flash flooding is caused by slow-moving thunderstorms or thunderstorms repeatedly moving over
the same area. Flash flooding is an extremely dangerous form of flooding which can reach full peak in
only a few minutes and allows little or no time for protective measures to be taken by those in its path.
Flash flood waters move at very fast speeds and can move boulders, tear out trees, scour channels,
destroy buildings, and obliterate bridges. Flash flooding often results in higher loss of life, both human
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Location
Most of the County is characterized by rolling, well-drained terrain. Numerous rills, creeks, and rivers
branch out across the landscape.
Taylor County is well drained by numerous streams and rivers that flow through the County and several
significant waterways exist. Principally, the Platte River crosses the southwest corner of the County
through Blockton before flowing into Missouri. Additionally, the Middle, East, and West Forks of the One
Hundred and Two River also bisect Taylor County from north to south, with the Middle Fork flowing
through the community of Gravity. The East Nodaway River flows through the northwest corner of the
County, and Honey Creek flows from the area near Clearfield into the State of Missouri. There are four
HUC-8 watersheds in Taylor County: Nodaway, One Hundred and Two, Platte, and Upper Grand.
Each community has its own specific issues pertaining to flooding. There is significant variability among
communities in Taylor County regarding their proximity to rivers, water bodies, or Special Flood Hazard
Areas. Bedford, Blockton, Conway, and Gravity have a history of flooding according to NCEI data. Digital
flood insurance rate maps showing this variability can be found for each incorporated area in Figure 3-19
through Figure 3-28.
According to the FEMA Preliminary Flood Insurance Study, the primary flooding sources are the following
rivers and their tributaries:
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• East Nodaway River: Nodaway Watershed covers entire western portion of Taylor Co. Drains to the
Missouri-Nishnabotna River Basin.
• West Fork One Hundred and Two River: One Hundred and Two Watershed is the largest in Taylor
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Co., encompasses 2/3 of Co. Drains to the Missouri-Nishnabotna River Basin.
• Platte River: Platte Watershed covers eastern portion of Taylor County. Drains to the Missouri-
Nishnabotna River Basin.
• Grand River: Upper Grand is the smallest watershed in Taylor County located at the southwest corner
of county. Drains to the Grand River Basin.
There are four HUC-8 watersheds in Taylor County: Nodaway, One Hundred and Two, Platte, and Upper
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Source: Taylor County Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan of 2016-2021
Flooding occurs in those locations of the planning area that are low-lying near rivers and streams and/or
do not have adequate drainage to carry away the amount of water that falls during intense rainfall events.
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According to specific reports from planning committee members, the following areas have a history of
flooding:
• Honey Creek
• Bedford Athletic fields (three baseball fields, buildings, bleachers, lighting, etc.)
Figure 3-19 provides the DFIRM 1-percent annual chance floodplain for all jurisdictions in the planning
area. The county-level map is provided first, and the remaining maps are provided in alphabetical order by
municipality. This will be discussed in greater detail in the vulnerability section.
Figure 3-19 Taylor County DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year Floodplain)
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Figure 3-20 City of Bedford DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year Floodplain)
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Figure 3-21 City of Blockton DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year Floodplain)
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Figure 3-22 City of Clearfield DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year Floodplain)
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Figure 3-23 City of Conway DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year Floodplain)
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Figure 3-24 City of Gravity DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year Floodplain)
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Figure 3-25 City of Lenox DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year Floodplain)
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Figure 3-26 City of New Market DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year
Floodplain)
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Figure 3-27 City of Sharpsburg DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain (100-Year
Floodplain)
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Figure 3-28 Taylor County School District Map with DFIRM 1-Percent Annual Chance Floodplain
(100-Year Floodplain)
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The NWS has various flash flooding products that are issued to the public to provide information
regarding upcoming and current flash flood threats (see Table 3-25).
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frequently with Flash Flood
Statements. too late!
A Flash Flood Emergency may be declared when a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage from a flash
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flood is imminent or ongoing. The declaration of a Flash Flood Emergency would typically be found in either a Flash
Flood Warning or Flash Flood Statement. People are strongly encouraged to avoid the geographic area of concern in
a Flash Flood Emergency. The Flash Flood Emergency wording is used very rarely and is reserved for exceptionally rare
and hazardous events.
Areal Flood Warning The threat of flash flooding is over, Areal flood warnings will typically list
but there is still significant standing locations and roads impacted by the
water in the affected area. flooding. Try to avoid these locations until
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Historical Occurrences
Table 3-26 provides details regarding the flash flood and river flood watches and warnings issued for
Taylor County and the Taylor County forecast zone by NWS. Areal flooding is a type of flash flooding that
is generally over a large area usually due to the amount and duration of rainfall.
Table 3-26 Flood-Related National Weather Service Watches and, Warnings Issued for Taylor
County and, Taylor County, Iowa Forecast Zone (2007 to August 2021)
Type of
Flood / Grand
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Product Total
Issued
Areal Flood
Advisory 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
Warning 1 5 4 5 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 2 0 0 22
Flash Flood
Warning 2 6 2 2 3 0 4 3 6 2 0 2 2 0 0 34
Type of
Flood / Grand
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Product Total
Issued
Grand 3 14 6 9 4 0 4 3 7 4 0 3 4 0 0 61
Total
Source: Iowa State University Department of Agronomy http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/vtec/search.php
Table 3-27 provides the top 20 rainfall events at the Bedford Weather Station from January 1, 1950, to
2021
Table 3-27 Top 20 Rainfall Events, Bedford Weather Station, 1950 to 2021
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1977-08-09 5
1980-08-31 4.75
2013-04-18
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4.65
2007-08-08 4.6
2008-09-13 4.27
2015-07-29 4.26
2015-07-16 4.22
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2014-06-04 4.02
1989-09-09 3.92
1999-07-31 3.71
2017-10-06 3.7
2018-08-20 3.7
2015-06-11 3.68
1960-06-30 3.65
1969-04-26 3.61
Source: Iowa State University Department of Agronomy
http://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/climodat/index.phtml?network=IACLIMATE&station=IA0576&report=02
Information from the NCEI was obtained from 1993 to 2021 to determine previous occurrences for flash
flood in the planning area. During this timeframe, there were 15 flash flood events and 19 river flood
events. During this timeframe, there were no injuries or deaths reported. Total property damages for these
events were estimated to be $702,500.
Table 3-28 provides a summary of the NCEI data.
Table 3-28 NCEI Taylor County, Iowa Flood Events Summary, 1993-2021
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Total $285,000 15
River Flood
5/8/1996
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5/9/1996 $0 1
5/10/1996 $0 1
5/23/1996 $0 1
5/26/1996 $0 1
2/18/1997 $0 1
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7/30/1999 $30,000 1
7/31/1999 $25,000 1
3/15/2001 $5,000 1
3/23/2001 $7,500 1
5/22/2004 $100,000 1
6/5/2008 $10,000 1
10/22/2008 $0 1
3/24/2009 $25,000 1
5/15/2009 $10,000 1
6/5/2010 $100,000 1
6/5/2010 $50,000 1
6/12/2010 $0 1
6/27/2011 $5,000 1
Total $417,500 19
Grand Total $702,500 34
Source: NCEI
• Spring/Summer 2015 Flooding: Throughout the County, damages were caused to bridges and
culverts and gravel was washed away on unpaved roads. The City of Bedford reported flash flooding
during the summer of 2015 that caused flooding of low-lying areas in the city. Sewers backed up into
basements causing costly repairs.
• June 2014 Flooding: The City of Blockton reported flash flooding in June 2014 that washed gravel off
of roadways, clogging ditches and drainage tubes. Damages occurred to 2 miles of the city’s 5 miles
of roadways.
• 2008 Flood: Throughout the County, damages were caused to bridges and culverts and gravel was
washed away on unpaved roads.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) maintains a
database of historic ice jams. According to a query of that database from 1950 to the present, no
recorded ice jams have occurred in the planning area (Source:
http://rsgisias.crrel.usace.army.mil/apex/f?p=524:1).
Presidential Disaster Declarations
Since 1953, there have been two Presidential Disaster Declarations for flooding in Taylor County. These
two flood events occurred in 1993 and 1998.
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The frequency of past events is used to gauge the likelihood of future occurrences. There were 34
flooding events in the planning area over the 28-year period from 1993 to 2021. This translates to a 100
percent likelihood of flash flooding somewhere in the planning area in any given year. Therefore, the
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probability rating is “Highly Likely”.
significant rainfall. Unlike areas impacted by a river/stream flood, flash floods can impact areas a good
distance from the stream itself. Flash flood prone areas are not particularly those areas adjacent to rivers
and streams. Streets can become swift moving rivers, and basements can become deathtraps because
flash floods can fill them with water in a matter of minutes.
Severity of Impact
Flash floods are the number one weather-related killer in the United States. They can quickly inundate
areas thought not to be flood prone. Other impacts can include loss of life; property damage and
destruction; damage and disruption of communications, transportation, electric service, and community
services; crop and livestock damage and interruption of business. Hazards of fire, health and
transportation accidents, and contamination of water supplies are likely effects of flash flooding situations.
Speed of Onset
Flash floods are somewhat unpredictable, but there are factors that can point to the likelihood of a flood
occurring in the area. Flash floods occur within a few minutes or hours of excessive rainfall, a dam or levee
failure, or a sudden release of water held by an ice jam. Warnings may not always be possible for these
sudden flash floods. Predictability of flash floods depends primarily on the data available on the causal
rain. Individual basins react differently to precipitation events. Weather surveillance radar is being used to
improve monitoring capabilities of intense rainfall. Knowledge of the watershed characteristics, modeling,
monitoring, and warning systems increase the predictability of flash floods. Depending on the location in
the watershed, warning time can be increased. The NWS forecasts the height of floods crests, the data,
and time the flow is expected to occur at a particular location.
Gages along streams and rain gages throughout the State provide for an early flood warning system.
River flooding usually develops over the course of several hours or even days depending on the basin
characteristics and the position of the particular reach of the stream. The NWS provides flood forecasts for
Iowa. Flood warnings are issued over emergency radio and television messages as well as the NOAA
weather radios. Jurisdictions in Taylor County would likely have at least 12-24 hours of warning time if a
river flooding event was imminent.
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Source: Karl, T.R., J.M. Melillo, and T.C. Peterson(eds). 2009. Global Climate ChangeImpacts in the United States. U.S. Global
Climate Change Research Program. Cambridge University Press and http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-
impacts as cited in the 2010 Climate Change Impacts on Iowa report by the Iowa Climate Change Impacts Committee
If this trend increases, flash flooding events and their associated impacts will likely occur more often in the
planning area.
In 2018, the U.S. Global Change Research Program published the Fourth National Climate Assessment.
According to this report, flood risk continues to increase in the Midwest due to increasing temperatures
and humidity, leading to increased rainfall. Episodes of widespread heavy rains in recent years have led to
flooding, soil erosion, and water quality issues.
To reduce the impact of climate change and changing weather patterns, the report highlights that
mitigation measures such as restoring systems like wetlands and forested floodplains and implementing
agricultural best management strategies that increase vegetative cover (such as cover crops and riparian
buffers) can help reduce flooding risks and protect water quality.
Vulnerability Assessment
People
Flash flooding poses the greatest risk to loss of life because of the sudden onset resulting in little warning
time and high volume and velocity of water. Water over low-lying roads and bridges is the most frequent
type of impact associated with flash flooding. There is potential for loss of life if motorists drive into
moving water; however, public education campaigns have helped to educate citizens about not driving
through moving water.
Property
The potential losses to existing development will be provided for the following categories of losses:
• Building Losses: this will include counts and values for buildings exposed to potential damage from
the 1-percent annual chance flood for each jurisdiction in the planning area;
• Estimated Population Displaced;
• Critical Facilities and Infrastructure at Risk.
The flood vulnerability and loss estimates for the unincorporated county and the incorporated cities were
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generated using the 04/05/2017 FEMA Effective mapping as represented in the National Flood Hazard
Layer (NFHL) and the Taylor County parcels layer provided by Taylor County. GIS analysis was conducted
to determine the number and values of buildings at risk to the 1-percent and 0.2 percent annual chance
flood hazards.
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GIS was used to overlay NFHL flood data on Taylor County parcel centroids. The analysis assumes that
every parcel with an improvement value greater than zero is improved in some way. Only improved
parcels and the value of their improvements were analyzed. The end result is an inventory of the number
and types of parcels and buildings subject to the hazards. Results are presented by unincorporated county
and incorporated jurisdictions. Detailed tables show counts of improved parcels/structures and land use
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type (Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, Multi-Residential, and Residential) within each flood zone.
The result of the exposure analysis summarizes the values at risk in the floodplain. When a flood occurs,
seldom does the event cause total destruction of an area. Potential losses from flooding are related to a
variety of factors including flood depth, flood velocity, building type and construction. Based on FEMA
Flood Insurance Administration (FIA) flood depth-damage curves, the percent of damage is directly
related to the flood depth. FEMA’s HAZUS flood loss estimation tool and the flood benefit/cost module
both use this simplified approach to model flood damage based on building type and flood depth. A
damage estimation of 25 percent of the total value was used based on FIA depth-damage curves for a
one-story structure with no basement flooded to two feet. While there are several limitations to this
model, it does present a methodology to estimate potential damages. This model may include structures
within the 1-percent annual chance floodplain that may be elevated above the level of the base flood
elevation, according to local floodplain development requirements, and thus mitigate the risk.
Additionally, structures with finished basements and commercial properties would likely sustain a higher
percentage of damage. Results of this analysis are presented in Table 3-29 and Table 3-30. Based on this
analysis, the greatest flood risk is in the unincorporated areas of the County, followed by Bedford. The
other jurisdictions are minimally flood prone.
Previous Agricultural Damages
Flooding and excess moisture take a toll on crop production in the planning area. According to the
USDA’s Risk Management Agency, payments for insured crop losses in the planning area as a result of
excess moisture and flood conditions from 2006-2015 totaled $26,049,401. This translates to an annual
average of $2,604,940, although the majority of this loss is from heavy precipitation as opposed to
flooding. According to USDA Risk Management Agency’s 2012 Iowa Crop Insurance Profile, 89 percent of
insurable crops in Iowa were insured. Table 3-31 summarizes the claims paid by year.
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Residential 3 $55,530 $27,765 $83,295 $20,824 7
Total 57 $1,538,540 $1,510,775 $3,049,315 $762,329 7
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Grand 138 $3,916,980 $3,620,880 $7,537,860 $1,884,465 44
Total
Table 3-30 Improved Properties at Risk to 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard
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Table 3-31 Crop Insurance Claims Paid in Taylor County for Crop Loss as a result of Excess
Moisture/Precipitation/Rain and Flood (2006-2021)
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2018 $886,233 $886,233
2019 $3,068,951 $33,201 $3,102,152
2020 $192,305 $9,303 $201,608
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2021 $52,650 $52,650
Totals $30,568,148 $261,584 $30,829,732
Source: USDA Risk Management Agency
shows the location of critical facilities within Taylor County. Table 3-32 and Table 3-33 list the critical
facilities within the 1% and 0.2% annual chance flood hazard areas. The majority of these facilities are
bridges.
Table 3-32 Critical Facilities Within the 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area
Hazardous Material
Transportation
Food, Water,
Jurisdiction
Shelter
Energy
Total
Lenox - - - 2 - - - 2
Unincorporated - - - 1 - - 21 22
Total 0 0 0 3 0 0 21 24
Table 3-33 Critical Facilities Within the 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard Area
Hazardous Material
Transportation
Food, Water,
Jurisdiction
Shelter
Energy
Total
Unincorporated - - - - - - 6 6
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 6
Economy
Economic damages related to flooding include crop loss, building damage, and recovery efforts after
flood events.
In 2010, FEMA conducted a Level 1 HAZUS MR4 flood analysis to estimate average annualized losses
(AAL). This AAL Study examined riverine and coastal flood hazards in the 48 contiguous states (including
the District of Columbia) by county. Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico, and US territories were not analyzed
as part of this study. The AAL Study estimated flood losses for the following storm events, which were
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then used to develop the annualized loss estimate: 10% annual chance (10-year), 2% annual chance (50-
year), 1% annual chance (100-year), 0.5% annual chance (200-year), and 0.2% annual chance (500-year).
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The data from the AAL Study was calculated at the census block level, based on HAZUS’ hydrology and
hydraulic analysis of streams draining 10 square mile or greater and utilizing 30m Digital Elevation Model
(DEM) data. It includes estimated replacement values and flood losses for both buildings and contents,
based on 2000 census data, and is aggregated by structure type (residential, commercial, and other). For
certain reaches of stream, the hydrology or hydraulics failed during the AAL Study, and loss estimates
were not able to be calculated. In some of the coastal areas, both riverine and coastal loss estimates were
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calculated, but may not be distinct in the AAL results. In spite of these known data gaps, the AAL Study
represents a baseline level of flood risk assessment results which can be used where more refined
analyses are not conducted or available.
The AAL Study estimates $433,000 in AAL for Taylor County, Iowa.
Flood Insurance in Taylor County
According to the FEMA Community Information System, as of November 2021, in the City of Bedford,
there is one (1) total flood insurance policy. The premium amounts to $262, and the total coverage is
$16,200. Since 1978, there have been 6 claims and the total amount paid is $27,871.
No other communities in Taylor County or its unincorporated areas have flood insurance policies.
Repetitive/Severe Repetitive Loss in Taylor County
A Repetitive Loss (RL) property is any insurable building for which two or more claims of more than $1,000
were paid by the NFIP within any rolling ten-year period, since 1978. A RL property may or may not be
currently insured by the NFIP. The following RL information is from the FEMA Community Information
System, as of November 2021.
In the City of Bedford, there is one RL property with two total RLs. No other communities in Taylor County
contain repetitive loss properties.
A Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) property is a single-family property (consisting of 1 to 4 residences) that is
covered under flood insurance by the NFIP and has incurred flood-related damage for which four or more
separate claims payments have been paid under flood insurance coverage, with the amount of each claim
payment exceeding $5,000 and with cumulative amount of such claims payments exceeding $20,000; or
for which at least two separate claims payments have been made with the cumulative amount of such
claims exceeding the reported value of the property.
There are no SRL properties in Taylor County or its incorporated areas.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
There are no known historic, cultural or natural resources at risk to flooding in Taylor County.
Development Trends
There is a correlation between increased population growth and development and increased risk to more
intense flooding. Taylor County has seen a net decrease in population since 2010 (-1.5%), and population
growth is not a significant factor contributing to Taylor County’s flood risk. Communities that are mapped
and participating in the NFIP who implement their floodplain ordinance typically do not see an increase in
flood risk. Development in the 500-year floodplain, which is not regulated, could result in an increased
flood risk because it reduces the floodwater storage area of large events.
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flooding during heavy rainfall events.
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Lenox CSD N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
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4 1 4 1 2.80 Moderate
Hazard Profile/Description
Iowa’s urban/rural interface (areas where development occurs within or immediately adjacent to wildland,
near fire-prone trees, brush, and/or other vegetation), is growing as metro areas expand into natural
forest, prairies and agricultural areas that are in permanent vegetative cover through the CRP. The State
has the largest number of CRP contracts in the nation, totaling over 1.5 million acres. Most of this land is
planted in cool and warm season grass plantings, tree plantings and riparian buffer strips. There is an
additional 230,000 acres in federal ownership and conservation easements.
Wildfires are frequently associated with lightning and drought conditions, as dry conditions make
vegetation more flammable. As new development encroaches into the wildland/urban interface more and
more structures and people are at risk. On occasion, ranchers and farmers intentionally set fire to
vegetation to restore soil nutrients or alter the existing vegetation growth. Also, individuals in rural areas
frequently burn trash, leaves and other vegetation debris. These fires have the potential to get out of
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control and turn into wildfires.
The risk of wildfires is a real threat to landowners across the State. The NWS monitors the conditions
supportive of wildfires in the State on a daily basis so that wildfires can be predicted, if not prevented.
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The risk factors considered are:
• High temperature
• High wind speed
• Fuel moisture (greenness of vegetation)
• Low humidity
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Location
The USDA Forest Service, under the direction of Congress in the 2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act
(H.R. 1625, Section 210), developed a nationwide wildfire risk assessment. The Wildfire Risk to
Communities study results were used to assess risk to Wildfire in Taylor County. Wildfire Risk to
Communities uses the best available science data to identify risk and provide resources for communities
to manage and mitigate risk. This is a national analysis for comparing risk that varies across a state,
region, or county to help prioritize actions to mitigate risk.
The Wildfire Likelihood and Risk to Homes wildfire analysis categories were reviewed to represent risk.
Figure 3-30 shows the Wildfire Likelihood in Taylor County, and the legend represents where the planning
area is in relation to the other counties in Iowa. The size of the circles in the legend is a proportional
representation of the County’s population compared to other counties in the State.
Figure 3-30 Taylor County Wildfire Likelihood Relative to Other Iowa Counties
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https://wildfirerisk.org/explore/0/19/19173/
Figure 3-31 shows the Risk to Homes within Taylor County and the legend represents where the planning
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area is in relation to the other counties in Iowa. Taylor County has a higher Risk to Homes compared to
other counties within the State, with generally higher risk than 86% of Iowa counties. The size of the
circles in the legend is a proportional representation of the County’s population compared to other
counties in the State. Risk to Homes combines wildfire likelihood and intensity with generalized results to
a home within the planning area. The Risk to Homes data integrate wildfire likelihood and wildfire
intensity from simulation modeling to represent wildfire hazard. Wildfire Risk to Communities uses a
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generalized concept of susceptibility that all homes that encounter wildfire will be damaged and the
degree of damage is directly related to the fire’s intensity.
Figure 3-31 Taylor County Wildfire Risk to Homes Relative to Other Iowa Counties
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https://wildfirerisk.org/explore/0/19/19173/
Historical Occurrences
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According to the NCEI database there were no wildland or forest fire events with significant impact that
have been reported in Taylor County. This does not account for small or contained grass fires that may
not have been reported. There is no available data to provide an accurate assessment of fires in the
jurisdictions. While there is a lack of available data for the historical occurrences, it can be assumed that
smaller structural fires and brush fires which are regularly contained by the fire departments in the County
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occur annually throughout the planning area. These fires rarely result in any damage to property;
however, cropland is at a higher risk. In addition, many communities in Taylor County have adequate fire
gear, or have standing mutual aid agreements, to respond to most grassland fires and do not consider
small grassland fires significant hazard events.
According to prior versions of the Taylor County Hazard Mitigation Plan, wildfires have occurred in the
following jurisdictions: rural Taylor County and the Cities of Blockton, Clearfield, and New Market. All local
fire departments have been involved in numerous small grass and wildland fires. There have been no
known fatalities due to grass or wildland fires in the County. Wildland fires are not likely at Lenox and
Bedford Schools because these school buildings are separated from hazard areas, being inside built-up
parts of these cities. In April 2009 there was a multiple-acre grass and wildland fire on CRP ground near
Sharpsburg that involved several fire departments.
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Iowa is already experiencing the effects of climate change. The Iowa Climate Change Impacts Committee's
Report to the Governor and the Iowa General Assembly has highlighted many expected effects, many of
which may impact the severity and frequency of grass or wildland fires in the coming years:
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• Long-term winter temperatures have increased six times more than summer temperatures.
• Nighttime temperatures have increased more than daytime temperatures since 1970.
• Iowa’s humidity has risen substantially, especially in summer, which now has 13 percent more
atmospheric moisture than 35 years ago as indicated by a 3 - 5-degree F rise in dew-point
temperature. This fuels convective thunderstorms that provide more summer precipitation.
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The impacts of higher temperatures listed above could also impact the frequency and severity of drought,
which in turn could help fuel more severe wildland fires. The complexities of the impacts of climate
change related to wildland fires in Iowa will likely lead to many cascading hazards, such as increased
erosion and flooding following fires.
Vulnerability
Most grass fires are contained to highway right-of-way and rail right-of-way ditches and are less than a
few acres in size. However, high winds can turn a small flame into a multi-acre grass fire within a matter of
minutes, but the extent is dependent upon conditions such as land use/land cover, moisture, and wind.
Grass fires are equally likely to affect Taylor County communities where there is dense or high vegetation.
Rural areas are much more likely to experience grass or wildland fires. Grass fires are often more easily
contained and extinguished before there is damage to people or developed property. Fires often burn
large portions of field crops in the fall when the crops are dry, and the harvesting equipment overheats or
throws sparks. It should be noted that for all incorporated communities vulnerability to damage from
grass or wildland fires is relatively low due to the ability of fire departments throughout the County to
respond to and put out fires before they are able to spread. For most jurisdictions in Taylor County less
than 25% of people and property would be affected by any grass or wildland fire.
People
Smoke and air pollution from wildfires can be a severe health hazard, especially for sensitive populations,
including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Smoke generated
by wildfire consists of visible and invisible emissions that contain particulate matter (soot, tar, water vapor,
and minerals), gases (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides), and toxics (formaldehyde,
benzene). Emissions from wildfires depend on the type of fuel, the moisture content of the fuel, the
efficiency (or temperature) of combustion, and the weather. Public health impacts associated with wildfire
include difficulty in breathing, odor, and reduction in visibility.
Wildfire may also threaten the health and safety of those fighting the fires. First responders are exposed
to the dangers from the initial incident and after-effects from smoke inhalation and heat stroke.
Property
Direct property damage and losses of buildings due to wildland fire is a rare occurrence in Taylor County.
According to the USDA Forest Service wildfire risk tool referenced above, populated areas in Taylor
County have, on average, a greater risk to homes than 86% of counties in Iowa.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical facilities of wood frame construction are especially vulnerable during grass or wildland fire events.
Power lines in the unincorporated areas of the County are the most at risk from wildfire because most
poles are made of wood and susceptible to burning. Fires can create conditions that block or prevent
access and can isolate residents and emergency service providers.
Some jurisdictions in Taylor County are more vulnerable to grass or wildland fires that others due to the
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large amount of cropland in the surrounding areas.
Economy
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Fire suppression may result in increased costs to local and state government for water acquisition and
delivery, especially during periods of drought when water resources are scarce. Fires can also cause direct
economic losses in the destruction of buildings and their contents, or indirectly through the forced
closures of businesses.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
Fire is a natural and critical ecosystem process in most terrestrial ecosystems, dictating in part the types,
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structure, and spatial extent of native vegetation. However, severe wildfires can cause negative
environmental impacts:
• Soil Erosion: The protective covering provided by foliage and dead organic matter is removed,
leaving the soil fully exposed to wind and water erosion. Accelerated soil erosion occurs, causing
landslides and threatening aquatic habitats.
• Spread of Invasive Plant Species: Non-native woody plant species frequently invade burned areas.
When weeds become established, they can dominate the plant cover over broad landscapes, and
become difficult and costly to control.
• Disease and Insect Infestations: Unless diseased or insect-infested trees are swiftly removed,
infestations and disease can spread to healthy forests and private lands. Timely active management
actions are needed to remove diseased or infested trees.
• Destroyed Endangered Species Habitat: Catastrophic fires can have devastating consequences for
endangered species.
• Soil Sterilization: Topsoil exposed to extreme heat can become water repellant, and soil nutrients
may be lost. It can take decades or even centuries for ecosystems to recover from a fire. Some fires
burn so hot that they can sterilize the soil.
Many ecosystems are adapted to historical patterns of fire occurrence. These patterns, called “fire
regimes,” include temporal attributes (e.g., frequency and seasonality), spatial attributes (e.g., size and
spatial complexity), and magnitude attributes (e.g., intensity and severity), each of which have ranges of
natural variability. Ecosystem stability is threatened when any of the attributes for a given fire regime
diverge from its range of natural variability.
Development Trends
As stated in the Hazard Description section, Iowa’s urban/rural interface is generally growing, however
specific to Taylor County the overall population is decreasing in recent years. Any future development in
the wildland urban interface/intermix areas could increase the planning areas vulnerability to this hazard,
but not by a significant degree.
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Unincorporated Taylor County 4 1 4 1 2.80 Moderate
Bedford 4 1 4 1 2.80 Moderate
Blockton
AF 3 1 4 1 2.35 Moderate
Clearfield 3 1 4 1 2.35 Moderate
Conway 3 1 4 1 2.35 Moderate
Gravity 4 1 4 1 2.80 Moderate
Lenox 3 1 4 1 2.35 Moderate
New Market 3 1 4 1 2.35 Moderate
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2 1 4 1 1.90 Low
Hazard Profile/Description
A hazardous substance is one that may cause damage to persons, property, or the environment when
released to soil, water, or air. Chemicals are manufactured and used in increasing types and quantities.
Each year over 1,000 new synthetic chemicals are introduced and as many as 500,000 products pose
physical or health hazards and can be defined as “hazardous chemicals”. Hazardous substances are
categorized as toxic, corrosive, flammable, irritant, or explosive. Hazardous material incidents generally
affect a localized area.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) all have responsibilities relating to the
transportation, storage, and use of hazardous materials and waste. The Right to Know Network
maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Response Center (NRC) is a primary national point of
contact for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, biological, and etiological discharges into the
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environment anywhere in the United States and its territories.
Fixed Hazardous Materials Incident
A fixed hazardous materials incident is the accidental release of chemical substances or mixtures during
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production or handling at a fixed facility.
Transportation Hazardous Materials Incident
A transportation hazardous materials incident is the accidental release of chemical substances or mixtures
during transport. Transportation Hazardous Materials Incidents in Taylor County can occur during
highway transport. There are no active railroad lines in Taylor County. Highway accidents involving
hazardous materials pose a great potential for public exposures. Both nearby populations and motorists
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Location
This section provides geographic locations within Taylor County impacted by each type of potential
hazardous materials incident.
Fixed Hazardous Materials Incident
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, as of 2020 there are 11 sites in Taylor County
that because of the volume or toxicity of the materials on site were designated as Tier II Facilities under
the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act. Of these 11 facilities, 8 reported materials on site
that are considered to be “Extremely Hazardous Substances” (EHS).
Table 3-34 provides the number of Tier II Facilities, as well as the number with EHS for each jurisdiction in
the planning area. The locations of the facilities were overlaid with the corporate boundaries provided by
the Taylor County GIS Department to determine the number of facilities in each jurisdiction. 0 that follows
is a map showing the locations of Tier II Facilities, including those with EHS.
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This airport is owned and operated by the City of Bedford and is not included in the National Plan of
Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The Iowa Aviation System Plan identifies the Bedford Municipal
Airport as a Basic Service airport.
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Pipeline Incident
Figure 3-33 provides the locations of pipelines in Taylor County. The data for this map consists of gas
transmission pipelines and hazardous liquid trunklines. It does not contain gathering or distribution
pipelines, such as lines which deliver gas to a customer’s home. Therefore, not all pipelines in the County
will be visible.
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Source: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, National Pipeline Mapping System, https://www.npms.phmsa.dot.go/PublicViewer/
Any type of hazardous materials incident within a city that includes a large release of hazardous materials
could affect large areas of the city in the right conditions, possibly even the entire city. This could
necessitate evacuation of large areas. In the rural unincorporated areas where population densities are
low, even in the event of a large release the number of homes that may need to be evacuated would be
significantly lower than in an urban environment.
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Immediate dangers from hazardous materials include fires and explosions. The release of some toxic
gases may cause immediate death, disablement, or sickness if absorbed through the skin, injected,
ingested, or inhaled. Contaminated water resources may be unsafe and unusable, depending on the
amount of contaminant. Some chemicals cause painful and damaging burns if they come in direct contact
with skin. Contamination of air, ground, or water may result in harm to fish, wildlife, livestock, and crops.
The release of hazardous materials into the environment may cause debilitation, disease, or birth defects
over a long period of time. Loss of livestock and crops may lead to economic hardships within the
community. The occurrence of a hazmat incident many times shuts down transportation corridors for
hours at a time while the scene is stabilized, the product is off-loaded, and reloaded on a replacement
container.
Historical Occurrences
In Iowa, hazardous materials spills are reported to the Department of Natural Resources. According to
Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 131, Notification of Hazardous Conditions, any person manufacturing,
storing, handling, transporting, or disposing of a hazardous substance must notify the Department of
Natural Resources and the local police department or the office of the sheriff of the affected county of the
occurrence of a hazardous condition as soon as possible but not later than six hours after the onset of the
hazardous condition or the discovery of the hazardous condition. The Department of Natural Resources
maintains a database of reported spills.
According to the NRC database, from 1990 to 2019, there have been 9 hazardous materials spills reported
in Taylor County. Of the spills 45% involved transportation of hazardous materials, 22% involved fixed
incidents, 22% related to pipeline includes and the remaining 11% were related to storage tanks. Taylor
County Hazardous Materials Spills, 1990-2019
2.5
1.5
0.5
2011
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1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
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Source: National Response Center
Table 3-35 Taylor County Hazardous Materials Spills, 1990-2019, by Material Type
Material Type # of
Spills
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Ammonia 5
Natural Gas 2
Propane 1
Oil, Various 1
Grand Total 9
Source: NRC
Of the nine spills reported in the NRC database, one event resulted in an evacuation and an injury. The
event took place in 2008 in Blockton. The following is from the NRC and describes the event.
• Caller is reporting a release of propane from a delivery truck due to a broken hose caused by hitting a
patch of ice and sliding into a ditch. The driver was injured and taken to the hospital with bruised ribs.
One private residence was evacuated for precautionary measures. The 290th Ave has been closed
until the propane finishes venting. Fire dept. Is on scene monitoring. There are no buildings or houses
for 4 miles downwind.
Pipelines
The U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration maintains a database of pipeline
incidents and mileage reports. According to the “Significant Incidents Listing”, there have been no
significant pipeline incidents in Taylor County in the past 20 years.
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over a long period of time. Loss of livestock and crops may lead to economic hardships within the
community. The occurrence of a hazmat incident many times shuts down transportation corridors for
hours at a time while the scene is stabilized, the product is off-loaded, and reloaded on a replacement
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container.
Severity of Impact
Severity of impact due to a hazardous materials spill is varied across jurisdictions. The severity of the
impact depends first and foremost on the type and amount of material that is part of a spill.
Speed on Onset
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When managed properly under current regulations, hazardous materials pose little risk. However, when
handled improperly or in the event of an accident, hazardous materials can pose a significant risk to the
population. Hazardous materials incidents usually occur very rapidly with little or no warning. Even if
reported immediately, people in the area of the release have very little time to be warned and evacuated.
During some events, sheltering in-place is the best alternative to evacuation because the material has
already affected the area and there is no time to evacuate safely. Public address systems, television, radio,
and the NOAA All-hazard Radios are used to disseminate emergency messages about hazardous
materials incidents.
Magnitude Score: 1—Negligible
Warning Time Score: 4—Less than six hours warning time
Duration Score: 1—Less than 6 hours
Vulnerability
Vulnerability Overview
A hazardous materials incident can occur almost anywhere. So, all jurisdictions are considered to have at
least some vulnerability to this hazard. People, pets, livestock, and vegetation in close proximity to
facilities producing, storing, or transporting hazardous substances are at higher risk. Populations
downstream, downwind, and downhill of a released substance are particularly vulnerable. Depending on
the characteristics of the substance released, more people, in a larger area may be in danger from
explosion, absorption, injection, ingestion, or inhalation.
Most of the hazardous materials incidents that have occurred in Taylor County are localized and are
quickly contained or stabilized. Depending on the characteristic of the hazardous material or the volume
of product involved, the affected area can be as small as a room in a building or as large as five square
miles or more. Many times, additional regions outside the immediately affected area are evacuated for
precautionary reasons. More widespread effects occur when the product contaminates the municipal
water supply or water system such as river, lake, or aquifer. Spills can be costly to clean up due to the
specialized equipment and training, and disposal sites that are necessary. Since the majority of spills in the
County are small and quickly maintained within existing capabilities, the magnitude was determined to be
“Negligible”.
People
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The impact of this type of disaster will likely be localized to the immediate area surrounding the incident.
The initial concern will be for people, then the environment. If contamination occurs, the spiller is
responsible for the cleanup actions and will work closely with responders in the local jurisdiction, the Iowa
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Department of Natural Resources, and the EPA to ensure that cleanup is done safely and in accordance
with federal and state laws. People, pets, livestock, and vegetation in close proximity to transportation
corridors, pipelines, and populations downstream, downwind, and downhill of a released substance are
particularly vulnerable. Depending on the characteristics of the substance released, a larger area may be
in danger from explosion, absorption, injection, ingestion, or inhalation. Occupants of areas previously
contaminated may be harmed directly or through consumption of contaminated food and water.
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Property
As mentioned, it is difficult to determine the potential losses to existing development because of the
variable nature of a hazardous materials spill. For example, a spill of a toxic airborne chemical in a
populated area could have greater potential for loss of life. By contrast a spill of a very small amount of a
chemical in a remote rural area would be much less costly and possibly limited to remediation of soil.
Property impacts are difficult to estimate and depends on the nature and type of incident. Property
impacts are typically limited to contamination or fires that may result from an incident.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Emergency service personnel would likely be tasked to respond to a hazardous materials incident. Specific
critical facilities may be considered vulnerable to this hazard, depending on proximity to transportation
routes or fixed facilities. Access to facilities and infrastructure in the area of the incident may be denied
until decontamination is complete.
Economy
Workplace closures could also result from an incident and have temporary economic impacts.
Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
Natural and cultural resources and facilities could also be impacted by a hazardous materials incident.
Everyday recreation activities that exist throughout the County such as a bike trails, recreation trails, city
park recreation areas, and aquatic centers could also be affected.
Development Trends
The number and types of hazardous chemicals stored and transported through Taylor County will likely
continue to increase. While the County has experienced population decline in the past five years, if
populations were to grow, this also increases the number of people vulnerable to the impacts of
hazardous materials spills. Population and business growth along major transportation corridors increases
the vulnerability to transportation hazardous materials spills.
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Unincorporated Taylor County 3 1 4 1 2.35 Moderate
Bedford 4 1 4 1 2.80 Moderate
Blockton
AF 3 1 4 1 2.35 Moderate
Clearfield 2 1 4 1 1.90 Low
Conway 1 1 4 1 1.45 Low
Gravity 4 1 4 1 2.80 Moderate
Lenox 4 1 4 1 2.80 Moderate
New Market 2 1 4 1 1.90 Low
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3 4 2 4 3.25 High
Hazard Profile/Description
A human disease outbreak is a medical, health or sanitation threat to the general public (such as
contamination, epidemic, plague and insect infestation). The outbreak may be spread by direct contact
with an infected person or animal, ingesting contaminated food or water, vectors such as mosquitoes or
ticks, contact with contaminated surroundings such as animal droppings, infected droplets, or by
aerosolization.
Iowa’s public health and health care communities work to protect Iowans from infectious diseases and
preserve the health and safety of Iowans by rapidly identifying and containing a wide range of biological
agents. Local public health departments and the Iowa Department of Public Health, Center for Acute
Epidemiology investigate disease “outbreaks” of routine illnesses. There are a number of biological
diseases/agents that are of concern to the State of Iowa such as vaccine preventable disease, foodborne
disease and community associated infections having significant impact on the morbidity of Iowans. The
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following descriptions are general, and it should be noted that individuals may experience more or less
severe consequences. Note, during the 2021 planning process the United States, including the State of
Iowa and Taylor County, was continuing to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Vaccine Preventable Disease
In the U.S., there are common infectious diseases that include polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, rubella,
mumps, tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b that are now rare because of widespread use of
vaccines. Routine childhood immunizations have helped protect both individuals and communities each
year saving nearly $14 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in costs to society according to the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Influenza
Influenza (flu) is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and lungs. There are two main types
of virus: A and B. Each type includes many different strains, which tend to change each year. In Iowa,
influenza occurs most often in the winter months. Illnesses resembling influenza may occur in the summer
months, but these are usually the result of other viruses that exhibit symptoms commonly referred to as
influenza-like illness or ILI.
Influenza is highly contagious and is easily transmitted through contact with droplets from the nose and
throat of an infected person during coughing and sneezing. Typical symptoms include headache, fever,
chills, cough, and body aches. Although most people are ill for only a few days some may have secondary
infections, such as pneumonia, and may need to be hospitalized. Anyone can get influenza, but it is
typically more serious in the elderly and people with chronic illnesses such as cancer, emphysema, or
diabetes or weak immune systems. It is estimated that thousands of people die each year in the United
States from flu or related complications.
Pandemic
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A pandemic flu is a human flu that causes a global outbreak, or
pandemic, of serious illness. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people
have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine.
This disease spreads easily person-to-person, causing serious illness, and can sweep across the country
and around the world in a very short time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been
working closely with other countries and the World Health Organization to strengthen systems to detect
outbreaks of influenza that might cause a pandemic and to assist with pandemic planning and
preparation.
During 2009 and 2010 health professionals around the globe worked to combat the H1N1 influenza virus.
This relatively mild and stable influenza virus circulated across the globe and caused one of the most
robust worldwide vaccination campaigns since the 1970s. Health professionals continue to monitor the
possibility of an avian (bird) flu pandemic associated with a highly pathogenic avian H5N1 virus. Since
2003, avian influenza has been spreading through Asia. A growing number of human H5N1 cases
contracted directly from handling infected poultry have been reported in Asia, Europe, and Africa, and
more than half the infected people have died. There has been no sustained human-to-human
transmission of the disease, but the concern is that H5N1 will evolve into a virus capable of human-to-
human transmission.
An especially severe influenza pandemic could lead to high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and
economic loss. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic
services such as public transportation, health care, and the delivery of food and essential medicines.
Pandemics are generally thought to be the result of novel strains of viruses. Because of the process
utilized to prepare vaccines, it is impossible to have vaccine pre-prepared to combat pandemics. A portion
of the human and financial cost of a pandemic is related to lag time to prepare a vaccine to prevent future
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spread of the novel virus. In some cases, current vaccines may have limited activity against novel strains.
Since March 2020 and during the update of this plan, Taylor County, the nation, and the world were
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dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, confirming that pandemic is a key public health hazard in the
County. Unlike seasonal flu, an influenza pandemic has much greater potential for loss of life and
significant social disruption due to higher rates of transmission and more severe health impacts. The
COVID-19 virus has a much higher rate of transmission than the seasonal flu, primarily by airborne
transmission of droplets/bodily fluid. Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of
breath or breathing difficulties, and loss of smell and taste. While most people have mild symptoms, some
people develop acute respiratory distress syndrome with roughly one in five requiring hospitalization and
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a fatality rate of approximately 1%. A key challenge in containing the spread has been the fact that it can
be transmitted by people who are asymptomatic.
Foodborne Disease
There are several agents that can cause illness when consumer in contaminated food, beverages or water.
Foodborne illness (food poisoning) can also be spread person-to-person as well as from contact with
animals. Table 3-36 is a list of common foodborne diseases
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A human disease outbreak has no geographic boundaries. Because of our highly mobile society, disease
can move rapidly through a school, business and across the nation within days, weeks or months. Many of
the infectious diseases that are designated as notifiable at the national level result in serious illness if not
death. Some are treatable, for others only the symptoms are treatable.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has affected all 99 Iowa counties. Taylor County has reported 979
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positive cases and 14 deaths, as of November 23, 2021. All communities in the County are likely to be
impacted, either directly or indirectly. Some indirect consequences may be the diversion of resources that
may be otherwise available.
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Historical Occurrences
The World Health Organization tracks and reports on epidemics and other public health emergencies
through the Global Alert and Response (see historic epidemics at www.who.int/en/).
There have been four acknowledged pandemics in the past century:
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• 2020-Ongoing COVID-19: The COVID-19 or novel coronavirus pandemic began in December 2019
and was declared a pandemic in March of 2020. As of November 23, 2021, 258,783,367 cases have
been reported around the world with over 5,165,655 deaths, including nearly 47,980,780 cases and
773,770 deaths in the U.S. Taylor County has reported 979 positive cases and 14 deaths. The
pandemic is expected to continue through 2021, although vaccines were approved at the end of 2020
and were starting to be dispersed during this plan update process, variants of the COVD-19,
specifically the delta variant, were beginning to become the main source of infection.
• 2009 H1N1 Influenza: The 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza caused 659 hospitalizations with lab
confirmed H1N1 since 9/1/09 and resulting in 41 fatalities. Typically, people who became ill were the
elderly, the very young and people with chronic medical conditions and high risk behaviors.
• 1968–69 Hong Kong flu (H3N2) : This strain caused approximately 34,000 deaths in the United
States and more than 700,000 deaths worldwide. It was first detected in Hong Kong in early 1968 and
spread to the United States later that year. Those over age 65 were most likely to suffer fatal
consequences. This virus returned in 1970 and 1972 and still circulates today.
• 1957–58 Asian flu (H2N2) : This virus was quickly identified because of advances in technology, and
a vaccine was produced. Infection rates were highest among school children, young adults and
pregnant women. The elderly had the highest rates of death. A second wave developed in 1958. In
total, there were about 70,000 deaths in the United States. Worldwide deaths were estimated between
one and two million.
• 1918–19 Spanish flu (H1N1) : This flu is estimated to have sickened 20-40 percent of the world’s
population. Over 20 million people lost their lives. Between September 1918 and April 1919, 500,000
Americans died. The flu spread rapidly; many died within a few days of infection, others from
secondary complications. The attack rate and mortality were highest among adults 20-50 years old;
the reasons for this are uncertain.
Other Reportable Diseases
Table 3-37 shows the historical reported deaths in Taylor County from Influenza and Pneumonia as well as
Infective and Parasitic Disease
Table 3-37 Deaths by Year 2005-2020, Influenza and Pneumonia and Infective and Parasitic
Disease
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2015 Less than 5 608 Less than 5 489
2014 3 or fewer 549 3 or fewer 448
2013
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3 or fewer 755 3 or fewer 511
2012 3 or fewer 656 3 or fewer 511
2011 3 or fewer 657 3 or fewer 464
2010 3 or fewer 557 3 or fewer 441
2009 3 or fewer 633 3 or fewer 457
2008 3 or fewer 825 3 or fewer 493
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Table 3-38 provides the number of common reportable diseases in Taylor County from 2011 to 2017 from
the Iowa Department of Public Health, Center for Acute Epidemiology Annual Reports.
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Salmonella 0 5 0 0 1 0 3
Shigella 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Syphilis
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Tuberculosis N/A N/A N/A 0 0 0 0
Tularemia 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A 0
West Nile Virus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total by Year 3 7 2 13 21 13 12
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Source: Iowa Department of Public Health, Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology Annual Reports. 2011-2017. http://idph.iowa.gov/CADE
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health – Immunization Program Audit Report from 2020-
2021 school year, Taylor County had 99.8 percent with immunization certificates for kindergarten through
12th grade. The County Immunization Assessment for 2-year old and 13-15 year old coverage is provided
in Table 3-39.
Table 3-39 2020 Vaccination Coverage Percent of Individual Vaccines and Selected Vaccination
Series in Taylor County (2-year-old coverage and 13–15-year-old coverage)
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Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Immunization Program Annual Report, 2020 County Immunization Assessment,
* Note: Up to date are 2-year-old children who have completed the 4 DTaP, 3 Polio, 1 MMR, 3 Hib, 3 Hep B, 1 Varicella, 4 PCV by 24 months of age
or adolescents 13- to 15-year-olds who have completed the 3 Hep B, 1 Meng, 2 MMR, 1 Td or Tdap, 2 Varicella series.
will be present, but not every new virus turns into a pandemic. Based on the five pandemics that have
affected the United States in roughly the last 100 years, a pandemic occurs on average roughly every 20
years. It is highly likely that human diseases will occur in Taylor County on an annual basis. Based on the
historical occurrences, the HMPC determined the possibility of a human disease outbreak causing a threat
to the general public to be “Likely”.
Probability Score: 3—Likely
influenza pandemic unlike any other public health emergency or community disaster. Pandemics typically
last for several months to 1-2 years.
The Pandemic Intervals Framework (PIF) is a six-phased approach to defining the progression of an
influenza pandemic. This framework is used to guide influenza pandemic planning and provides
recommendations for risk assessment, decision making, and action. These intervals provide a common
method to describe pandemic activity which can inform public health actions. The duration of each
pandemic interval might vary depending on the characteristics of the virus and the public health response.
The six-phase approach was designed for the easy incorporation of recommendations into existing
national and local preparedness and response plans. Phases 1 through 3 correlates with preparedness in
the pre-pandemic interval, including capacity development and response planning activities, while Phases
4 through 6 signal the need for response and mitigation efforts during the pandemic interval.
Pre-Pandemic Interval
In nature, influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals (primarily birds). Even though such
viruses might develop into pandemic viruses, in Phase 1 no viruses circulating among animals have been
reported to cause infections in humans.
• Phase 1 is the natural state in which influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals but do
not affect humans.
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In Phase 2 an animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have
caused infection in humans and is thus considered a potential pandemic threat.
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• Phase 2 involves cases of animal influenza that have circulated among domesticated or wild animals
and have caused specific cases of infection among humans.
In Phase 3 an animal or human-animal influenza virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of
disease in people but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-
level outbreaks. Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for
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examples, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver. Limited
transmission under these circumstances does not indicate that the virus has gained the level of
transmissibility among humans necessary to cause a pandemic.
• Phase 3 represents the mutation of the animal influenza virus in humans so that it can be transmitted
to other humans under certain circumstances (usually very close contact between individuals). At this
point, small clusters of infection have occurred.
Pandemic Interval
Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of the virus able to cause “community-
level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant
upward shift in the risk for a pandemic.
• Phase 4 involves community-wide outbreaks as the virus continues to mutate and become more
easily transmitted between people (for example, transmission through the air)
Phase 5 is characterized by verified human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one
World Health Organization (WHO) region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the
declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the
organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
• Phase 5 represents human-to-human transmission of the virus in at least two countries.
Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community-level outbreaks in at least one other country
in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will
indicate that a global pandemic is underway.
• Phase 6 is the pandemic phase, characterized by community-level influenza outbreaks.
Severity of Impact
Improvements in sanitation and hygiene, the discovery of antibiotics, and the implementation of universal
childhood vaccination programs have decreased the number and severity of human diseases. Illinois
Department of Public Health (IDPH) also provides consultation to county and local health agencies on
diseases requiring public health intervention, collaborates with Centers for Diseases Control and
Prevention by weekly reporting of nationally reportable diseases, and offers health education
opportunities. Programs guide community-based prevention planning, monitor current infectious disease
trends, prevent transmission of infectious disease, provide early detection and treatment for infected
persons, and ensure access to health care for refugees in Iowa. All of these safeguard work to limit the
severity of impact of human disease epidemics.
Speed of Onset
Generally, health care practitioners would be the first to know of a human disease epidemic. It is expected
that, if a highly contagious disease were diagnosed in Taylor County, appropriate safety measures would
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be taken and further spread of the disease would be reduced. The community would be given at least 24
hours warning time.
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Magnitude Score: 4—Catastrophic
Warning Time Score: 2—12-24 hours
Duration Score: 4—More than 1 week
of epidemics and pandemics. Climate change may influence vector-borne disease transmission, although
the direction of the effects (increased or decreased incidence) will be location- and disease-specific. The
intensity and extent of certain diseases is projected to increase.
Ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, building climate resiliency, and creating robust
public health campaigns to prevent or prepare for possible increased vector-borne diseases may help to
reduce the impacts of climate change on pandemics. The 2010 Climate Change Impacts Iowa Report
details the following as climate change contributors to negative consequences for public health in Iowa:
• Extreme Precipitation Events, Rising Humidity, and Associated Disease
• Illness and Death Associated with Extreme Heat and Heat Waves
• Warming, Air Quality and Respiratory Problems
• Pollen Production and Allergies
• Diseases Transferred by Food, Water, and Insects
Vulnerability
The HMPC ranked human disease outbreak as catastrophic based on a pandemic scenario. The magnitude
of an infectious disease outbreak is related to the ability of the public health and medical communities to
stop the spread of the disease. Most disease outbreaks that cause critical numbers of deaths are
communicable in nature, meaning that they are spread from person-to-person. The key to reducing the
critical nature of the event is to stop the spread of disease. This is generally done in three ways: (1)
identification and isolation of the ill, (2) quarantine of those exposed to the illness to prevent further
spread, and (3) education of the public about methods to prevent transmission. The public health and
health care providers in Taylor County routinely utilize all three methods to reduce morbidity and
mortality from infectious disease.
People
While everyone is vulnerable to human diseases, the elderly, young, and people with medical conditions
tend to be affected most. As noted under Previous Occurrences, the COVID-19 pandemic, as of November
23, 2021, 258,783,367 cases have been reported around the world with over 5,165,655 deaths, including
nearly 47,980,780 cases and 773,770 deaths in the U.S. Taylor County has reported 979 positive cases and
14 deaths. In addition to the direct impacts, the pandemic has completely disrupted life for many people.
Most large gatherings have had to be cancelled and sheltering in-place and social distancing have been
highly encouraged and, in some places, mandated, leaving some individuals isolated for months.
Property
Human disease epidemics generally do not cause structural damage, and there is no historical data for
previous structural losses due to human disease epidemics. Therefore, a loss estimate was not completed
for this hazard. This hazard was also not spatially analyzed because it does not typically cause structural
damage.
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Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Health care facilities and emergency service personnel would likely be affected in the event of a human
disease epidemic. While buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities are not considered vulnerable to this
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hazard, access to facilities and infrastructure in the area of the incident may be denied until
decontamination is complete. Workplace closures due to social distancing and quarantine requirements
can make facility operation more difficult.
Economy
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated closures has been significant, triggering
a recession and high unemployment; the unemployment rate nationwide jumped for 4.4% in March of
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2020 to 14.7% in April and stayed in the double-digits through most of the summer. Some studies
estimate that 1 in 5 renters are at risk of eviction. The stock market suffered major losses in the early days
of the pandemic. The restaurant, retail, and oil and gas industries have been particularly hard hit, with
numerous businesses closing or filing for bankruptcy. And among household with children, food
insecurity – defined as when a household does not have sufficient food for its members to maintain
healthy and active lives and lacks the resources to obtain more food – has more than doubled from 14%
in 2018 to 32% in July 2020.
Local economy and finances may be adversely affected, possibly for an extended period of time.
Unscheduled sick leave from a large portion of the workforce could result in millions of dollars lost in
productivity. Business restrictions due to social distancing requirements can also be significant. In a
normal year, lost productivity due to illness costs U.S. employers an estimated $530 billion. During a
pandemic, that figure would likely be considerably high and could trigger a recession or even a
depression.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
Impacts to these resources are typically minimal. However, reduced tourism during outbreaks could lead
to additional economic impacts.
Development Trends
The population in Taylor County is declining and thus exposure to human disease is trending downward.
But 22 percent of the population is over 65 years old. Those over 65 are more susceptible to health
complications as a result of disease.
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Gravity 3 4 2 4 3.25 High
Lenox 3 4 2 4 3.25 High
New Market
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Sharpsburg 3 4 2 4 3.25 High
Bedford CSD 3 4 2 4 3.25 High
Lenox CSD 3 4 2 4 3.25 High
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4 2 4 3 3.30 High
Hazard Profile/Description
Critical infrastructure involves several different types of facilities and systems including: electric power,
transportation routes, natural gas and oil pipelines, water and sewer systems, storage networks, and
internet/telecommunications systems. Failure of utilities or other components of the infrastructure in the
planning area can seriously impact public health, functioning of communities and the economy.
Disruption of any of these services could result from the majority of the natural, technological, and
manmade hazards described in this plan. In addition to a secondary or cascading impact from another
primary hazard, utilities and infrastructure can fail as a result of faulty equipment, lack of maintenance,
degradation over time, or accidental damage such as damage to buried lines or pipes during excavation.
To maintain consistency with the State plan, this hazard encompasses a variety of different types of
infrastructure failure, including communications failure, energy failure, structural failure, and structural fire.
Communications Failure
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Communications failure is the widespread breakdown or disruption of normal communication capabilities.
This could include major telephone outages, internet interruption, loss of cellular telephone service, loss
of local government radio facilities, long-term interruption of electronic broadcast services, or emergency
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911. Law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, public works, and emergency warning systems
are just a few of the vital services which rely on communications systems to effectively protect citizens. In
addition, business and industry rely heavily on various modes of communication. Mechanical failure, traffic
accidents, power failure, line severance, and weather can all affect communications systems and disrupt
service. Disruptions and failures can range from localized and temporary to widespread and long-term.
The types of hazards and impacts to internet and telecommunications infrastructure are very similar to
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electric power supply. Land line phone lines often utilize the same poles as electric lines. So, when weather
events such as windstorm or winter weather cause lines to break, both electricity and telephone services
experience outages. With the increasing utilization of cellular phones, hazard events such as tornado that
can damage cellular repeaters can cause outages. In addition, during any hazard event, internet and
telecommunications systems can become overwhelmed due to the surge in call/usage volume.
Energy Failure
Energy failure includes interruption of service to electric, petroleum, or natural gas. Disruption of electric
power supply can be a cascading impact of several other hazards. Electric power is the type of energy
failure that is most often a secondary impact of other hazard events. The most common hazards analyzed
in this plan that disrupt power supply are: flood, tornado, windstorm, and winter weather as these hazards
can cause major damage to power infrastructure. To a lesser extent, extreme temperatures, dam failure,
lightning, and terrorism can disrupt power. Extreme heat can disrupt power supply when air conditioning
use spikes during heat waves which can cause brownouts. Dam failure is similar to flood in that
infrastructure can be damaged or made inaccessible by water. Lightning strikes can damage substations
and transformers but is usually isolated to small areas of outage. Many forms of terrorism could impact
power supply either by direct damage to infrastructure or through cyber terrorism targeting power supply
networks.
Primary hazards that can impact natural gas and oil pipelines are earthquake, expansive soils, land
subsidence, landslide, and terrorism.
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mentioned above. They have included homes, commercial structures, and communications towers. There
is no central collection point for this information, but news articles document infrastructure failure.
A structural fire is an uncontrolled fire in a populated area that threatens life and property and is beyond
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normal day-to-day response capability. Structural fires present a far greater threat to life and property and
the potential for much larger economic losses. Modern fire codes and fire suppression requirements in
new construction and building renovations, coupled with improved firefighting equipment, training, and
techniques lessen the chance and impact of a major urban fire. Most structural fires occur in residential
structures, but the occurrence of a fire in a commercial or industrial facility could affect more people and
pose a greater threat to those near the fire or fighting the fire because of the volume or type of the
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material involved. Less severe structural fires are almost a common occurrence in some communities.
Location
The entire planning area is at risk to all types of infrastructure failure included in the hazard description
section, either from primary failure due to malfunction, degradation, or accidental or intentional damage
or as a result of a secondary impact related to another hazard event.
Power outages can occur in outlying areas with more frequency than in more developed areas. A loss of
electric power can also interrupt your supply of water from a well. You may also lose food in freezers or
refrigerators and power outages can cause problems with computers as well.
Chapter 2 provides details on relevant infrastructure in Taylor County. Section 2.1.8 details Taylor County
Transportation Systems. Section 2.1.11 details Communications and Response, and Section 2.1.14, “Other
Relevant Infrastructure”, details potable water, sanitary sewer, electrical power, heating and industrial fuel,
and stormwater control.
Figure 3-34 is the electrical service area map for Taylor County.
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Source: http://www.iowadot.gov/maps/ms/electrical/Taylor_87.pdf
Figure 3-35 shows the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) that administers Iowa’s statewide fiber optic
telecommunications network.
Source: http://icn.iowa.gov/about-icn/agency-information-icn-story
Note: Orange box outlines Taylor County.
A map of the transportation infrastructure including bridges is provided in Section 3.5.20 Transportation
Incidents.
Historical Occurrences
As indicated in the hazard description section, Infrastructure Failure often occurs as a secondary impact to
other hazard events. For specific descriptions, please see the Historical Occurrences section of the other
hazards included in this plan.
The structural fires that have occurred in Taylor County have been within the normal day-to-day response
capability, including use of pre-arranged mutual aid and do not fall into the category of uncontrolled fires
in a populated area that threatens life and property.
Probability of Future Occurrences
As discussed in other hazard sections in this plan, infrastructure failure occurs as a secondary or cascading
impact from several primary hazards such as winter storm, windstorm, and tornado. In addition, other
incidents such as structure fire that are included in this hazard profile occur annually. Therefore, the HMPC
determined the probability of future occurrence of this hazard to be “Highly likely”.
Probability Score: 4—Highly Likely
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Severity of Impact
Severity of impact is dependent on the event. Energy disruptions and communications failures generally
do not result in injuries or illnesses, have a limited impact on property damage, and results in a brief
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interruption of essential facilities or services. Structural fires could potentially cause serious injury and
major property damage that threatens structural stability.
Speed of Onset
Infrastructure failure cannot be predicted. There would be minimal or no warning time if an infrastructure
failure occurred.
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Vulnerability
Vulnerability Overview
Iowa is almost entirely dependent on out-of-state resources for energy. Iowans purchase oil, coal, and
natural gas from outside sources. As a result, world and regional fuel disruptions are felt in Iowa.
Every community in the planning area is at risk to some type of utility/infrastructure failure. Business and
industry in the urban areas are reliant on electricity to power servers, computers, automated systems, etc.
Rural areas of the County are vulnerable as well, as modern agricultural practices are reliant on energy;
such as electric milking machines, and irrigation pivots.
Generally, the smaller utility suppliers such as small electrical suppliers have limited resources for
mitigation. This could mean greater vulnerability in the event of a major, widespread disaster, such as a
major flood, severe winter storm or ice storm. The municipal utilities that exist in the County purchase
power on the wholesale market for resale to their customers. This may make them more vulnerable to
regional shortages of power as well.
People
Power failure from winter storms and windstorms can and have affected these communities and caused
extended power losses than affect larger numbers of people. Those that are dependent on electricity to
live independently are more vulnerable to extended power loss events. As shown under Section 3.5.15
Severe Winter Storms, 7% of Medicare Beneficiaries in Taylor (107 of 1,619 Beneficiaries) are reliant on
electricity.
As its operations provide the first line of defense for nearly all critical infrastructure sectors, a failure or
disruption in emergency services can result in significant harm or loss of life, major public health issues,
long-term economic loss, and cascading disruptions to other critical infrastructure.
Property
Loss of facilities can disrupt the ability of state and local governments to provide essential services to the
public, to include emergency services, the maintenance and repair of transportation systems, and other
public-sector services. While loss of government facilities may not increase the likelihood of natural or
technological disasters, a lack of government coordination and response could greatly magnify the
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impacts of most hazards.
Since utility/infrastructure failure is generally a secondary or cascading impact of other hazards, it is not
possible to quantify estimated potential losses specific to this hazard due to the variables associated with
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affected population, duration of outages, etc.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
In general, all critical facilities in all jurisdictions could be vulnerable to an infrastructure failure. In the
event of a large-scale event impacting water supply or wastewater treatment homes and businesses with,
well-supplied water and septic systems for waste treatment would be largely unaffected. However, these
systems may be prone to individual failure and do not have backup systems in place in the event of failure
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as larger systems might. Discussion on bridges and potential scour critical bridges is discussed under
Section 3.5.20 Transportation Incident.
Economy
Disruption in commercial operations can have major economic impacts. A supply chain disruption could
severely limit the State’s ability to recover from any disaster or emergency. Since utility/infrastructure
failure is generally a secondary or cascading impact of other hazards, it is not possible to quantify
estimated potential losses specific to this hazard due to the variables associated with affected population,
duration of outages, etc.
Although the variables make it difficult to estimate specific future losses, FEMA has developed standard
loss of use estimates in conjunction with their Benefit Cost Analysis methodologies to estimate the cost of
lost utilities on a per person, per-use basis (See Table 3-40).
Table 3-40 FEMA Standard Values for Loss of Service for Utilities and Roads/Bridges
Development Trends
Increases in development and population growth would increase the demand for utilities and use of
infrastructure as well as the level of impacts when the utilities or infrastructure fail. However, Taylor
County has seen an overall population decrease since the 2010 census. However, as technological
advances are made, and systems become more and more automated and dependent on power and
communications infrastructure. As a result, the impacts of infrastructure failure could increase even
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though population is decreasing.
3.5.13 Landslide
Hazard Score Calculation
1 1 1 1 1 Low
Hazard Profile/Description
A landslide is a general term for a variety of mass movement processes that generate a downslope
movement of soil, rock, and vegetation under gravitational influence. Landslides are a serious geologic
hazard common to almost every state in the United States. It is estimated that nationally they cause up to
$2 billion in damages and from 25 to 50 deaths annually. Some landslides move slowly and cause damage
gradually, whereas others move so rapidly that they can destroy property and take lives suddenly and
unexpectedly. Gravity is the force driving landslide movement. Factors that allow the force of gravity to
overcome the resistance of earth material to landslide include saturation by water, erosion or
construction, alternate freezing or thawing, earthquake shaking, and volcanic eruptions.
Landslides are typically associated with periods of heavy rainfall or rapid snow melt and tend to worsen
the effects of flooding that often accompanies these events. In areas burned by forest and brush fires, a
lower threshold of precipitation may initiate landslides. Generally significant land sliding follows periods of
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above-average precipitation over an extended period, followed by several days of intense rainfall. It is on
these days of intense rainfall that slides are most likely.
Areas that are generally prone to landslide hazards include existing old landslides; the bases of steep
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slopes; the bases of drainage channels; and developed hillsides where leach-field septic systems are used.
Landslides are often a secondary hazard related to other natural disasters. Landslide triggering rainstorms
often produce damaging floods. Earthquakes often induce landslides that can cause additional damage.
Slope failures are capable of damaging or destroying portions of roads and railroads, sewer and water
lines, homes and public buildings, and other utility lines. Even small-scale landslides are expensive due to
clean up costs that may include debris clearance from streets, drains, streams and reservoirs; new or
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renewed support for road and rail embankments and slopes; minor vehicle and building damage; personal
injury; and livestock, timber, crop and fencing losses and damaged utility systems. Specific to Iowa and
Taylor County, landslides are primarily very small, non-damaging events.
Location
A portion of the State is moderately susceptible to landslides. In northeastern Iowa, along the Silurian
Escarpment, you can find blocks of dolomite slumped onto the underlying Maquoketa shale. In the hilly
terrain of central Iowa, areas of Pennsylvanian shale are susceptible to slides where it is overlain by loess
or till. Susceptible areas are found along the adjacent steep terrain associated with the major river valleys
such as the Mississippi, Missouri, Des Moines, and Iowa and in the Loess Hills of western Iowa.
While locations of areas more susceptible than others are mapped (see Figure 3-36 below), the likelihood
or probability of landslides is not well understood in Iowa. The entirety of Taylor County is shown as
having low incidence of landslides.
Only certain jurisdictions have slopes and landforms that would make true landslides possible: Rural
Taylor County, Cities of Bedford, Blockton, Conway, Gravity, New Market, and Sharpsburg, and Bedford
Schools. The Taylor County Supervisors have received funds for landslide impacts to rural road shoulders
after exceptional rains.
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Historic Occurrences
No specific previous occurrences of landslide were reported by the HMPC or discovered during research.
However, it was reported that during periods of heavy rain, some areas across the County on steep slopes
have become saturated with water and slid onto roadways. There have also been no reported landslide
events in Iowa resulting in injury or death. The geographic extent of the documented historic events has
been limited to less than a city block in size and has “run-out” over the stretch of less than 100 yards.
However, as no State agency documents historical data on landslides in Iowa, there may be
undocumented past events that were larger.
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Increased temperatures are projected to contribute to more water evaporation making drought more
common, which could increase the probability of wildfire, reducing the vegetation that helps to support
steep slopes. Additionally, increases in the occurrence of extreme precipitation events could lead to
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oversaturated hillsides, which are at increased risk of landslide.
Vulnerability
People
Exposure to landslide risk is the greatest danger to people. However, a landslide of sufficient magnitude
to cause death or injury is very unlikely in Taylor County. As mentioned previously, there have been no
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Development Trends
Due to the lack of hazard exposure to landslides and the gradually decreasing population of Taylor
County, current development trends are not likely to increase exposure or vulnerability to landslides.
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Hazard Profile/Description
A radiological incident is an occurrence resulting in the release of radiological material at a fixed facility
(such as power plants, hospitals, laboratories, etc.) or in transit.
Radiological incidents related to transportation are described as an incident resulting in a release of
radioactive material during transportation. Transportation of radioactive materials through Iowa over the
interstate highway system is considered a radiological hazard. The transportation of radioactive material
by any means of transport is licensed and regulated by the federal government. As a rule, there are two
categories of radioactive materials that are shipped over the interstate highways:
• Low level waste consists of primarily of materials that have been contaminated by low level
radioactive substances but pose no serious threat except through long-term exposure. These
materials are shipped in sealed drums within placarded trailers. The danger to the public is no more
than a wide array of other hazardous materials.
High level waste, usually in the form of spent fuel from nuclear power plants, is transported in
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•
specially constructed casks that are built to withstand a direct hit from a locomotive.
Location
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Fixed Facilities
An incident resulting in a release of radiological material at a fixed facility is a fixed radiological incident.
There are three nuclear facilities in adjacent states with planning buffer zones that cross into Iowa. The
southwest portion of Taylor County is in the 50-mile planning buffer of the Cooper Nuclear Power Plant in
Nebraska (see Figure 3-37 and Figure 3-38 Portions of the unincorporated County and the all of the City
of New Market are within the 50-mile planning buffer. The one nuclear power plant located within Iowa,
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the Duane Arnold Energy Center near Palo in Linn County, ceased operations in 2021 and is no longer a
concern for the planning area.
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Figure 3-38 Cooper Nuclear Power Plant, 50-Mile Planning Buffer Impacting Taylor County,
Iowa
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Historical Occurrences
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has emergency classifications divided into four categories. Each
level has a certain response requirement from the plant and government. The following are the
emergency classifications from least to most severe:
• Unusual Event
• Alert
• Site Area Emergency
• General Emergency
Since 1990, the following emergency classifications have occurred for the Cooper Nuclear Power Plant:
• 20 Unusual Events,
• 1 Alert,
• 0 Site Area Emergencies or General Emergencies.
The Duane Arnold facility has experienced seven Unusual Events, one Alert, and no Site Area Emergencies
or General Emergencies. None of these occurrences qualify as a radiological hazard event. There have
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been no occurrences of a radiological incident since the facility began operating in 1974.
According to the Iowa State Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2018, there have been no occurrences of a
radiological transportation incident in Iowa since 1990.
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Probability of Future Occurrence
Based on the minor number of previous occurrences for this hazard, the probability of future occurrences
of radiological incidents is “Unlikely”.
Probability Score: 1—Unlikely
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Severity of Impact
According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, nuclear accidents and incidents are classified under
three categories:
• Criticality Incidents: Involve nuclear assemblies, research, production or power reactors, and
chemical operation. Worldwide, these incidents have resulted in fatalities, radiation exposure, and
release of radioactivity into the environment.
• Loss-of-Coolant: Accidents result when a reactor coolant system experiences a breach large enough
that coolant inventory can no longer be maintained by the normally operating makeup system.
• Loss-of-Containment: Accidents involve the release of radioactivity. Points of release this type of
incident can be containment vessels at power facilities or damaged packages during transportation.
Speed of Onset
A radiological incident could happen with little to no warning.
Magnitude Score: 4—Catastrophic
Vulnerability
People
In general, danger to the public in the planning area is less than a wide array of other hazardous materials.
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Those working with or near sources of radiation are at a greater risk than the general citizens in the
planning area. Those responding to a radiological incident should be trained in recognizing a radiological
incident and minimize exposure to radioactive materials. Although the probability of occurrence is low, if a
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release of radiation from the Cooper Nuclear Power Plant did occur, this could have serious consequences
in Taylor County. Even if health impacts were not evident, the number of worried well could flood
available healthcare facilities.
Property
Responding to the effects of a radiological incident in the planning area would be extensive and would
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require resources and assistance from several state and federal agencies to determine and evaluate the
threat to life and the environment. Due to the variable nature of this hazard, it is not possible to quantify
potential losses.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical facilities and infrastructure are not likely to be directly impacted from a radiological event.
Economy
Radiological incidents are not likely to have a large effect on the economy but cleanup for a radiological
incident could be extremely costly and take several years to complete. There may also be short-term
economic impacts to local business and the County as a whole if people were unable to travel to or stop
in Taylor County.
Historic, Cultural and Natural Resources
Impacts from a radiological incident would be long lasting for the natural environment. Radiological
releases can pollute the environment and cause nearby plants and animals to get sick. Radioactive
material that gets into the air or water supply can affect humans further away from the incident site.
Development Trends
Increased development near fixed facilities that house radioactive materials and along transportation
corridors would increase the number of people vulnerable to this hazard in the planning area.
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4 2 3 4 3.25 High
Hazard Profile/Description
Severe winter storms are an annual occurrence in Iowa. A major winter storm can last for several days and
be accompanied by high winds, freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall, cold temperatures, and drifting
snow creating blizzards. The NWS describes different types of winter storm events as follows:
• Blizzard: Winds of 35 mph or more with snow and blowing snow reducing visibility to less than ¼
mile for at least three hours.
• Blowing Snow: Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility. Blowing snow may be falling snow and/or
snow on the ground picked up by the wind.
• Snow Squalls: Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation may
be significant.
• Snow Showers: Snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is
possible.
Freezing Rain: Measurable rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This
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causes it to freeze to surfaces, such as trees, cars, and roads, forming a coating or glaze of ice. Most
freezing-rain events are short lived and occur near sunrise between the months of December and
March.
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• Sleet: Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when
hitting a surface and does not stick to objects.
Heavy accumulations of ice, often the result of freezing rain, can bring down trees, utility poles, and
communications towers and disrupt communications and power for days. Even small accumulations of ice
can be extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians.
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Severe winter storms include extreme cold, heavy snowfall, ice, and strong winds which can push the wind
chill well below zero degrees in the planning area. Heavy snow can bring a community to a standstill by
inhibiting transportation (in whiteout conditions), weighing down utility lines, and by causing structural
collapse in buildings not designed to withstand the weight of the snow. Repair and snow removal costs
can be significant. Ice buildup can collapse utility lines and communication towers, as well as make
transportation difficult and hazardous. Ice can also become a problem on roadways if the air temperature
is high enough so that precipitation falls as freezing rain rather than snow.
Extreme cold often accompanies severe winter storms and can lead to hypothermia and frostbite in
people who are exposed to the weather without adequate clothing protection. Cold can cause fuel to
congeal in storage tanks and supply lines, stopping electric generators. Cold temperatures can also
overpower a building’s heating system and cause water and sewer pipes to freeze and rupture. When
combined with high winds from winter storms, extreme cold becomes extreme wind chill, which is
extremely hazardous to health and safety.
The National Institute on Aging estimates that more than 2.5 million Americans are especially vulnerable
to hypothermia, with the isolated elderly being most at risk. About 10 percent of people over the age of
65 have some kind of temperature-regulating defect, and 3-4 percent of all hospital patients over 65 are
hypothermic.
Also, at risk are those without shelter or who are stranded, or who live in a home that is poorly insulated
or without heat. Other impacts of extreme cold include asphyxiation (unconsciousness or death from a
lack of oxygen) from toxic fumes from emergency heaters; household fires, which can be caused by
fireplaces and emergency heaters; and frozen/burst pipes.
Wind can greatly amplify the impact of cold ambient air temperatures. Provided by the NWS, Figure 3-40
below shows the relationship of wind speed to apparent temperature and typical time periods for the
onset of frostbite.
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Source: NWS
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Location
According to the Southwest Climate and Environmental Information Collaborative (SCENIC), the planning
area has a January average high temperature normal of 32 degrees (F), a January average low temperature
normal of 12 degrees (F), and the annual average snowfall of 21.74 inches from 1950 to 2020.
The entire State of Iowa is vulnerable to heavy snow, extreme cold temperatures and freezing rain.
Generally, winter storms occur between the months of November and March but can occur as early as
October and as late as April.
Figure 3-41 shows that the entire planning area (approximated within the red square) is in the yellow and
orange shaded areas that receive from 6-12 hours of freezing rain per year.
Figure 3-41 Average Number of Hours per Year with Freezing Rain
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Source: Midwestern Regional Climate Center; http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/living_wx/icestorms/index.html
Note: Red square provides approximate location of planning area.
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Historical Occurrences
Historically, there have been two Presidential Disaster Declarations for Severe Winter Storm/Ice Storm that
included Taylor County since 1965 (See Table 3-2 in the Hazard Identification section).
From 1996 to 2020, the NCEI database reported 8 blizzard events, 5 extreme cold/wind chill events, 20
heavy snow events, 15 ice storm events, and 13 winter storm events in Taylor County. This results in a total
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of 61 incidents of severe winter storms in the County. According to NCEI data, these weather events did
not result in any deaths or injuries, but they did cause a total of $1.85 million in property damages and
$2.6 million in crop damages. This translates to an average of 2.5 winter storm events per year.
NOAA’s NWS has issued 336 Advisory, Watch, and/or Warnings concerning winter weather phenomena in
the planning area between 2005 and June 2021. This data is housed by the Iowa Environmental Mesonet,
Iowa State University Department of Agronomy website.
Table 3-41 NWS Issuances for Winter Weather in Taylor County, Iowa, 2005-June 2021
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heavy precipitation are the ingredients of winter storms. Most counties in Iowa can usually expect 2 or 3
winter storms a season with an extreme storm every 3 to 5 years on average. Based on the historic
occurrences of this hazard, Taylor County can expect to experience 2.5 winter storm events per year,
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giving a rating of Highly Likely.
Probability Score: 4—Highly Likely
DOT, county road departments, and local public works agencies are responsible for the removal of snow
and treatment of snow and ice with sand and salt on the hundreds of miles of streets and highways in the
area. Poor road conditions, immobilized transportation, and downed trees and electrical wire can impair
snow removal on roads and road treatment.
Building and communication tower collapse and bodily injury or death are just a few of the possible
impacts of a severe winter storm. Vehicle batteries and diesel engines are stressed, and the fuel often gels
in extreme cold weather. This impacts transportation, trucking, and rail traffic. Rivers and lakes freeze, and
subsequent ice jams threaten bridges and can close major highways. Ice jams can also create flooding
problems when temperatures begin to rise.
An ice coating at least ¼ inch in thickness is heavy enough to damage trees, overhead wires, and similar
objects and to produce widespread power outages. Buried water pipes can burst causing massive ice
problems, loss of water, and subsequent evacuations during sub-zero temperatures.
Fire during winter storms presents a great danger because water supplies may freeze, and firefighting
equipment may not function effectively, or personnel and equipment may be unable to get to the fire. If
power is out, interiors of homes become very cold, causing pipes to freeze and possibly burst.
Cold temperature impacts on agriculture are frequently discussed in terms of frost and freeze impacts
early or late in growing seasons and on unprotected livestock. The cost of snow removal, repairing
damage, and loss of business can have large economic impacts on a community.
Speed of Onset
The NWS has developed effective weather advisories that are promptly and widely distributed. Radio,
television, and All-hazard Radios provide the most immediate means to do this. Accurate information is
made available to public officials and the public at least 12-24 hours in advance as storms form and totals
are estimated. Several notifications made by the NWS include winter storm warning, blizzard warning,
winter weather advisory, and a frost/freeze advisory.
Magnitude/Severity Score: 2 – Limited
Warning Time Score: 3—6-12 hours
Duration Score: 4—more than 1 week
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observed. According to the report Climate Change in the Midwest: A Synthesis Report for the National
Climate Assessment, referenced in the 2018 Iowa State Hazard Mitigation Plan, average winter
precipitation has increased by 0.031 inches per year from 1981-2010. These changes in climate may
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impact the frequency and severity of winter weather in the coming years. The Fourth National Climate
Assessment also notes, specific to the Midwest region, “warming winters will reduce snowpack that acts to
insulate soil from freezing temperatures, increasing frost damage to shallow tree roots and reducing tree
regeneration”, which in turn may lead to increased damage from winter storms. This is just one example
of the ways in which a changing climate could lead to cascading impacts from various natural hazards.
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Vulnerability
The entire planning area is vulnerable to the effects of winter storm. Hazardous driving conditions due to
snow and ice on highways and bridges lead to many traffic accidents and can impact the response of
emergency vehicles. The leading cause of death during winter storms is transportation accidents. About
70 percent of winter-related deaths occur in automobiles due to traffic accidents and about 25 percent
are from people caught outside in a storm. Emergency services such as police, fire, and ambulance are
unable to respond due to road conditions. Emergency needs of remote or isolated residents for food or
fuel, as well as for feed, water and shelter for livestock are unable to be met. The probability of utility and
infrastructure failure increases during winter storms due to freezing rain accumulation on utility poles and
power lines. People, pets, and livestock are also susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia during winter
storms. Those at risk are primarily either engaged in outdoor activity (shoveling snow, digging out
vehicles, or assisting stranded motorists), or are the elderly. Schools often close during extreme cold or
heavy snow conditions to protect the safety of children and bus drivers. Citizens’ use of kerosene heaters
and other alternative forms of heating may create other hazards such as structural fires and carbon
monoxide poisoning.
People
The threat to public safety is typically the greatest concern when it comes to impacts of winter storms. The
highest risk will be to travelers that attempt to drive during adverse conditions. People can also become
isolated from essential services in their homes and vehicles. While virtually all aspects of the population
are vulnerable to the potential indirect impacts of a winter storm, others may be more vulnerable, such as
individuals with access and functional needs, who may become isolated to essential services.
Elderly populations are considered to be at increased risk to winter storms and associated extreme cold
events. According to the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates, approximately
22% of Taylor County’s population is over the age of 65. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services estimates that there are 107 electricity-dependent Medicare beneficiaries in the County.
These individuals are extremely vulnerable during power outages, which commonly accompany severe
winter storm events
Property
Buildings with overhanging tree limbs are more vulnerable to damage during winter storms. Businesses
experience loss of income as a result of closure during power outages. In general, heavy winter storms
increase wear and tear on roadways though the cost of such damages is difficult to determine. High snow
loads can cause damage to buildings and roofs. Most property damages with winter storms are related to
the heavy snow loads and vehicle accidents. Older buildings are more at risk, as are buildings with large
flat rooftops (often found in public buildings such as schools). Vulnerability is influenced both by
architecture and type of construction material and should be assessed on a building-by-building basis.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
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Roads are especially susceptible to the effects of a severe winter storm, which can temporarily hinder
transportation and require resources for snow removal. As noted under the people section, heavy snow
accumulation may also lead to downed power lines not only causing disruption to customers but also
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have potentially negative impacts on critical facilities in the County which may have cascading impacts on
the local governments’ ability to operate. Potential losses would include cost of repair or replacement of
damaged facilities and lost economic opportunities for businesses. Secondary effects from loss of power
could include burst water pipes in homes without electricity during winter storms.
Overhead power lines are also vulnerable to damages from winter storms, in particular ice accumulation
during winter storm events can cause damages to power lines due to the ice weight on the lines and
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equipment as well as damage caused to lines and equipment from falling trees and tree limbs weighted
down by ice. Potential losses would include cost of repair or replacement of damaged facilities, and lost
economic opportunities for businesses.
The electric power loss of use estimates provided in Table 3-42 below were calculated using FEMA’s
Standard Values for Loss of Service for Utilities published in the June 2009 BCA Reference Guide. These
figures are used to provide estimated costs associated with the loss of power in relation to the
populations in Taylor County’s jurisdictions. The loss of use estimates for power failure associated with
winter storms is provided as the loss of use cost per person, per day of loss. The estimated loss of use
provided for each jurisdiction represents the loss of service of the indicated utility for one day for 10
percent of the population. It is understood that in rural areas, the typical loss of use may be for a larger
percentage of the population for a longer time during weather extremes. These figures do not take into
account physical damages to utility equipment and infrastructure.
Table 3-42 Loss of Use Estimates for Power Failure (10% of Population for One Day)
Economy
Closure of major transportation routes during severe winter storms could temporarily isolate communities
in Taylor County and further isolate the more remote areas of the County. Depending on the length of the
closure it could also hinder the local economy by disrupting tourism and out of county visitors, as well as
the potential impacts to shipping delays from a closure of any of the highways which traverse the County.
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Snow removal costs can also impact budgets significantly. Power outages may lead to business closures
as well, with impacts possibly lasting for multiple days. As shown above, according to FEMA standard
values for loss of service for utilities reported in the 2009 Benefit Cost Analysis Reference Guide, the
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economic impact as a result of loss of power is $126 per person per day of lost service.
Agricultural Impacts
Winter storms, cold, frost and freeze take a toll on crop production in the planning area. According to the
USDA’s Risk Management Agency, payments for insured crop losses in the planning area as a result of
cold conditions and snow from 2007-2020 totaled $1,184,925 (see Table 3-43).
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Table 3-43 USDA Crop Indemnity Payments due to Winter Storm in Taylor County, 2007-2020
Year Cold Wet Weather Cold Winter Freeze Frost Other Insurance Paid
(Includes
Snow)
2007 $124,330 $25,534 $4,864 $154,728
2008 $81,353 $7,573 $2,647 $91,573
2009 $229,563 $1,285 $19,446 $250,294
2010 $17,657 $17,657
2011 $6,140 $1,501 $2,866 $10,507
2012 $62,536 $62,546
2013 $2,614 $2,614
2014 $5,730 $4,504 $32,731 $30,364 $73,329
2015 $40,543 $40,543
2016 $27,464 $27,464
2017 $25,600 $516 $26,176
2018 $166,942 $23,714 $190,656
2019 $223,023 $168 $13,647 $236,838
Year Cold Wet Weather Cold Winter Freeze Frost Other Insurance Paid
(Includes
Snow)
Total $547,607 $39,112 $41,527 $54,748 $1,184,925
Source: USDA Risk Management Agency
Development Trends
Taylor County is currently experiencing population decline therefore development pressures are not
anticipated to influence vulnerability to hazards. Any future development could potentially increase
vulnerability to this hazard by increasing demand on the utilities and increasing the exposure of
infrastructure networks.
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Severe Winter Storm Hazard Summary by Jurisdiction
Although crop loss as a result of winter storm occurs more in the unincorporated portions of the planning
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area, the crops losses are not high since corn and soybeans are not in the ground during winter months
and only get affected from unusual weather events. The density of vulnerable populations is higher in the
cities. Transportation incidents related to winter storm could also impact all jurisdictions. With these
vulnerabilities that apply to both urban and rural jurisdictions, the magnitude of this hazard is relatively
equal. The factors of probability, warning time, and duration are also equal across the planning area. This
hazard does not substantially vary by jurisdiction.
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3.5.16 Sinkholes
Hazard Score Calculation
1 1 4 1 1.45 Low
Hazard Profile/Description
Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or
rocks that can naturally be dissolved by ground water circulating through them. As the rock dissolves,
void spaces and caverns develop underground. The sudden collapse of the land surface can be dramatic
and range in size from broad, regional lowering of the land surface to localized collapse. Although
subsidence can be a naturally occurring hazard, the primary causes of most incidents of subsidence are
human activities: underground mining of coal, groundwater or petroleum withdraw, and drainage of
organic soils. Land subsidence occurs slowly and continuously over time or on occasion abruptly, as in the
sudden formation of sinkholes. Sinkholes can be aggravated by flooding.
Location
There are three areas in Iowa where large numbers of sinkholes exist: 1) within the outcrop belt of the
Ordovician Galena Group carbonates in Allamakee, Clayton, and Winneshiek Counties; 2) in Devonian
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carbonates in Bremer, Butler, Chickasaw, and particularly Floyd and Mitchell counties; and 3) along the
erosional edge of silurian carbonates in Dubuque and Clayton Counties. According to the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, there are no significant sinkholes in Taylor County.
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Additionally, mining activity within the planning area has been minimal.
Historical Occurrences
Research did not reveal any reported previous occurrences of sinkholes in the planning area.
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Vulnerability Assessment
People
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Most of Iowa’s sinkholes occur in rural areas where there is little risk for injury or death.
Property
Due to the lack of information regarding previous occurrences of this hazard, it is not possible to estimate
potential property losses. The main impact of sinkholes in Taylor County would likely render some land
unsuitable for row-crop agriculture.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
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Due to the lack of information regarding previous occurrences of this hazard, it is not possible to estimate
potential property losses.
Economy
Economic impacts due to a sinkhole would be localized to the area where the sinkhole occurred.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
A sinkhole in Taylor County could affect natural resources such as agricultural land in the area where it
occurs.
Development Trends
Future development will increase vulnerability to this hazard.
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3.5.17 Terrorism
Hazard Score Calculation
1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
Hazard Profile/Description
This hazard encompasses the following sub-hazards: enemy attack, biological terrorism, agro-terrorism,
chemical terrorism, conventional terrorism, cyber terrorism, radiological terrorism and public disorder.
These hazards can occur anywhere and demonstrate unlawful force, violence, and/or threat against
persons or property causing intentional harm for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom in violation
of the criminal laws of the United States. These actions may cause massive destruction and/or extensive
casualties. The threat of terrorism, both international and domestic, is ever present, and an attack is likely
to occur when least expected.
Enemy attack is an incident that could cause massive destruction and extensive casualties throughout the
world. Some areas could experience direct weapons’ effects: blast and heat; others could experience
indirect weapons’ effect. International political and military activities of other nations are closely
monitored by our federal government and the State of Iowa would be notified of any escalating military
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threats.
The use of biological agents against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws of the United
States for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom can be described as biological terrorism. Liquid or
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solid contaminants can be dispersed using sprayers/aerosol generators or by point of line sources such as
munitions, covert deposits and moving sprayers. Biological agents vary in the amount of time they pose a
threat. They can be a threat for hours to years depending upon the agent and the conditions in which it
exists.
Agro-terrorism consists of acts to intentionally contaminate, ruin, or otherwise make agricultural products
unfit or dangerous for consumption or further use. Agriculture is an important industry in Iowa and Taylor
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County. The introduction of a biological agent into the population of 28,500 cattle and calves, or the
76,920 hogs and pigs, or the 89,800 acres of corn in Taylor County would be financially devastating and
would have a major impact on the food supply of the State and the nation. A major attack involving the
nation’s food supply could be launched in a rural area that has little capacity to respond. Potential
terrorists’ targets for livestock disease introduction would be concentration points, such as the County’s
licensed feedlots or livestock markets discussed later in the Geographic Location section.
Chemical terrorism involves the use or threat of chemical agents against persons or property in violation
of the criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom. Effects of
chemical contaminants are similar to biological agents.
Use of conventional weapons and explosives against persons or property in violation of the criminal laws
of the United States for purposes of intimidations, coercion, or ransom is conventional terrorism. Hazard
affects are instantaneous; additional secondary devices may be used, lengthening the time duration of the
hazard until the attack site is determined to be clear. The extent of damage is determined by the type and
quantity of explosive. Effects are generally static other than cascading consequences and incremental
structural failures. Conventional terrorism can also include tactical assault or sniping from remote
locations.
Electronic attack using one computer system against another in order to intimidate people or disrupt
other systems is a cyber attack. All governments, businesses and citizens that conduct business utilizing
computers face these threats. Cyber security and critical infrastructure protection are among the most
important national security issues facing our country today. As such, the Iowa Division of Criminal
Investigation has a Cyber Crime Unit tasked with analysis and retrieval of digital information for
investigations.
Radiological terrorism is the use of radiological materials against persons or property in violation of the
criminal laws of the United States for purposes of intimidation, coercion or ransom. Radioactive
contaminants can be dispersed using sprayers/aerosol generators, or by point of line sources such as
munitions, covert deposits and moving sprayers or by the detonation of a nuclear device underground, at
the surface, in the air or at high altitude.
Mass demonstrations, or direct conflict by large groups of citizens, as in marches, protect rallies, riots, and
non-peaceful strikes are examples of public disorder. These are assembling of people together in a
manner to substantially interfere with public peace to constitute a threat, and with use of unlawful force
or violence against another person, or causing property damage or attempting to interfere with,
disrupting, or destroying the government, political subdivision, or group of people. Labor strikes and work
stoppages are not considered in this hazard unless they escalate into a threat to the community.
Vandalism is usually initiated by a small number of individuals and limited to a small target or institution.
Most events are within the capacity of local law enforcement.
The Southern Poverty Law Center reported in 2021 there were three active hate groups in Iowa: Great
Millstone (Black Separatist) in Des Moines, National Alliance (Neo-Nazi) and Patriot Front (White
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Nationalist); all identified as being statewide.
Location
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The entire planning area has a low potential for terrorist activity. However, any venue with a large
gathering of people could be a potential target for terrorists. The most likely targets of a conventional
terrorism attack in Taylor County include public school system facilities the Taylor County Courthouse and
Taylor County Law Enforcement Center.
In terms of cyber terrorism, our society is highly networked and interconnected. An attack could be
launched from anywhere on Earth and could range in impacts from small and localized to a far-reaching
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global scale. Depending on the attack vector and parameters, a cyber attack could impact all of Taylor
County and its associated municipal jurisdictions. Refer to Section 3.5.2 for more information on cyber
attacks.
Historical Occurrences
There have not been any large-scale enemy attacks or acts of radiological terrorism in Iowa. There have
been biological and chemical agent threats, animal rights activists’ vandalism and many bomb threats. In
2002, pipe bombs were found in 18 states including Iowa and six people were injured in the bombings in
Iowa and Illinois. In 2005 and 2006, pipe bombs were used in attempted murder cases in two Iowa cities.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety issued an Iowa Hate Crime by Jurisdiction Report, 1991-2007 and
Taylor County had a total of one reported by the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office in 2000.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety issued a 2009 Iowa Uniform Crime Report showing 18 hate/bias
crimes were reported statewide in 2009, with an average of 33 hate/bias crimes statewide from 2000-
2009.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there have not been any hate crimes incidents reported in
Taylor County.
Nationally, the number of terrorist attacks in the U.S. declined sharply from the 1970s through the early
2000s, as shown in Figure 3-43; since 2006, the U.S. has experienced a steady increase in attacks, driven
primarily by an increase in domestic terrorism as shown in Figure 3-44.
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
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100
50
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0
Source: Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) Global Terrorism Database (GTD) https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/
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Vulnerability
Overview
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Potential losses from Terrorism include all infrastructure, critical facilities, crops, humans and animals. The
degree of impact would be directly related to the type of incident and the target. Potential losses could
include cost of repair or replacement of damaged facilities, lost economic opportunities for businesses,
loss of human life, injuries to persons, loss of food supplies, disruption of the food supply chain, and
immediate damage to the surrounding environment. Secondary effects of infrastructure failure could
include public safety hazards, spread of disease, increased morbidity and mortality among the local and
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distant populations, public panic and long lasting damage to the environment. Terrorism events are rare
occurrences and specific amounts of estimated losses for previous occurrences are not available due to
the complexity and multiple variables associated with these types of hazards.
People
People would be the greatest vulnerability in the event of a terrorism incident in Taylor County.
Property
In some instances, information about these events is secure and unavailable to the public in order to
maintain national security and prevent future attacks.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Critical facilities and infrastructure are vulnerable as these assets would be likely targets for a direct attack.
Depending on the extent of damages or disruptions in the aftermath of an event, the ability of first
responders and medical personnel to respond could be hindered.
Economy
Potential economic losses could include cost of repair or replacement of damaged facilities, lost economic
opportunities for businesses, loss of food supplies, disruption of the food supply chain, and immediate
damage to the surrounding environment.
Development Trends
As public events are held at various venues in the County, the potential may exist for these locations to
become targets of attack. With human-caused hazards such as this that can have multiple variables
involved, increases in development is not always a factor in determining risk, although the physical cost of
the event may increase with the increased or newly developed areas.
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Bedford 1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
Blockton 1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
Clearfield
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Conway 1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
Gravity 1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
Lenox 1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
New Market 1 4 4 4 2.65 Moderate
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4 2 3 1 2.95 Moderate
Hazard Profile/Description
A thunderstorm is defined as a storm that contains lightning and thunder which is caused by unstable
atmospheric conditions. When the upper air which is cold sinks and the warm moist air rises, storm clouds
or ‘thunderheads’ develop resulting in thunderstorms. This can occur singularly, in clusters or in lines.
Severe thunderstorms most often occur in Iowa in the spring and summer, during the afternoon and
evenings, but can occur at any time. Thunderstorms can result in heavy rains, high winds, tornadoes, and
hail.
Thunderstorms are created from a combination of moisture, rapidly raising warm air, and the lifting
mechanism such as that caused when warm and cold air masses collide. Thunderstorms are hazards unto
themselves, but can cause other hazards such as flash flooding, river flooding, and tornadoes/windstorms.
Hailstorms are a product of a severe thunderstorm in which pellets or lumps of ice (of most concern when
greater than 1 inch in diameter) fall with rain.
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The NWS considers a thunderstorm severe if it produces hail at least ¾ inch in diameter, wind 58 mph or
higher, or tornadoes. High straight-line winds, which can often exceed 60 mph, are common occurrences
and are often mistaken for tornadoes. Hail is produced by many strong thunderstorms. Strong rising
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currents of air within a storm will carry water droplets to a height where freezing occurs. The size of hail
ranges from 0.75 inches in diameter to 2.75 inches. Ice particles grow in size until they are too heavy to be
supported by the updraft. Hail can be smaller than a pea or as large as a softball and can be very
destructive to plants and crops. Pets and livestock are particularly vulnerable to hail.
Lightning
All thunderstorms produce lightning which often strikes outside of the area where it is raining and is
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known to strike more than 10 miles away from the rainfall area. Thunder is simply the sound that lightning
makes. Lightning is an electrical discharge that results from the buildup of positive and negative charges
within a thunderstorm. When the buildup becomes strong enough, lightning appears as a “bolt.” This
flash of light usually occurs within the clouds or between the clouds and the ground. A bolt of lightning
reaches temperatures approaching 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a split second. This rapid heating,
expansion, and cooling of air near the lightning creates thunder. According to the NWS, lightning kills on
average 49 people per year in the United States. Lightning strikes can also start building fires, wildland
fires, and damage electrical systems and equipment.
Hail
According to the NOAA, hail is precipitation that is formed when updrafts in thunderstorms carry
raindrops upward into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere causing them to freeze. The raindrops
form into small frozen droplets and then continue to grow as they come into contact with super-cooled
water which will freeze on contact with the frozen rain droplet. This frozen rain droplet can continue to
grow and form hail. As long as the updraft forces can support or suspend the weight of the hailstone, hail
can continue to grow.
At the time when the updraft can no longer support the hailstone, it will fall down to Earth. For example, a
¼” diameter or pea sized hail requires updrafts of 24 mph, while a 2 ¾” diameter or baseball sized hail
requires an updraft of 81 mph. The largest hailstone recorded in the United States was found in Vivian,
South Dakota on July 23, 2010, measuring eight inches in diameter, almost the size of a soccer ball.
Soccer-ball-sized hail is the exception, but even small pea sized hail can do damage.
Hailstorms in Iowa cause damage to property, crops, and the environment and kill and injure livestock. In
the United States, hail causes more than $1 billion in damage to property and crops each year. Much of
the damage inflicted by hail is to crops. Even relatively small hail can shred plants to ribbons in a matter of
minutes. Vehicles, roofs of buildings and homes, and landscaping are the other things most commonly
damaged by hail. Hail has been known to cause injury to humans, occasionally fatal injury.
Based on information provided by the Tornado and Storm Research Organization, Table 3-44 below
describes typical damage impacts of the various sizes of hail.
Table 3-44 Tornado and Storm Research Organization Hailstorm Intensity Scale
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Severe 21-30 0.8-1.2 Walnut Severe damage to fruit and crops, damage to glass
and plastic structures, paint and wood scored
Severe 31-40 1.2-1.6 Pigeon’s egg Widespread glass damage, vehicle bodywork damage
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> squash ball
Destructive 41-50 1.6-2.0 Golf ball > Wholesale destruction of glass, damage to tiled roofs,
Pullet’s egg significant risk of injuries
Destructive 51-60 2.0-2.4 Hen’s egg Bodywork of grounded aircraft dented; brick walls
pitted
Destructive 61-75 2.4-3.0 Tennis ball > Severe roof damage, risk of serious injuries
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cricket ball
Destructive 76-90 3.0-3.5 Large orange Severe damage to aircraft bodywork
> Soft ball
Super 91-100 3.6-3.9 Grapefruit Extensive structural damage. Risk of severe or even
Hailstorms fatal injuries to persons caught in the open
Super >100 4.0+ Melon Extensive structural damage. Risk of severe or even
Hailstorms fatal injuries to persons caught in the open
Source: Tornado and Storm Research Organization (TORRO), Department of Geography, Oxford Brookes University
Notes: In addition to hail diameter, factors including number and density of hailstones, hail fall speed and surface wind speeds affect severity
Location
Thunderstorms and the associated hail and lightning impact the entire County with relatively similar
frequency. Although, these events occur similarly throughout the planning area, they are more frequently
reported in more urbanized areas. In addition, damages are more likely to occur in more densely
developed urban areas as well as to cropland. Figure 3-45 displays the average number of days with
thunder experienced throughout different areas of the County each year, showing the County experiences
between 40.5 to 50.4 days with thunder per year. Figure 3-46 shows 2 to 8 lightning strikes per square
kilometer per year with both yellow and orange shaded areas.
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Note: Black Square indicates approximate location of Taylor County
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Historical Occurrences
Since 1965, Taylor County has been included in seven Presidential Disaster Declarations that included
severe storms/weather (see Table 3-3 in the Hazard Identification section). Some of the damages that
resulted in the declarations were from tornadoes and flooding that accompanied the severe weather.
According to NCEI data, Taylor County has experienced 162 events of hail or lightning from 1950 to 2020
(the time frame for which data was available). In total, these events have caused $970,500 in property
damages and $3,229,000 in crop damages. From 1986 to 2020, the Iowa State Environmental Mesonet
Database reported 390 Severe Thunderstorm Watches or Warnings from the NWS issued for Taylor
County. Overall, the County occurrence is high; however, there are variations among jurisdictions when it
comes to the severity and impact of individual events.
Hazard Type Total Events with Property Crop Damage Injuries Fatalities
Events Damage Damage
Hail 158 99 $783,500 $3,229,000 0 0
Lightning 4 4 $187,000 0 0 0
Totals 162 43 $970,500 $3,229,000 0 0
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Data Source: NCEI Storm Events Database 2020
Based on NCEI data, there have been 158 hail events producing hail 0.75 inches and larger in a 70-year
period, producing an average of just over two hail events each year in Taylor County. When limiting the
probability analysis to hail events producing hail 1.75 inches and larger, there have been 40 events in a
50-year period. Based on this history, the probability of a destructive hail event in any given year is 80%
percent. Based on this history, there can be a severe hail event every year making the probability for
damaging hail “highly likely” in any given year. When considering the frequencies of severe
thunderstorms, as discussed in the Historical Occurrences section, there are an average of ten watches
and 23 warnings issued per year, meaning a severe thunderstorm occurring in a given year is certain.
Probability Score: 4—Highly Likely
onset as a 4, meaning that there is usually less than 6 hours warning time regarding the specific path,
duration, or intensity of a thunderstorm, lightning, event, or hailstorm.
Severity of Impact
It is possible for the entire county to be affected by a large thunderstorm and lightning event that moves
across the entire county, but effects are often localized. Thunderstorms can bring large hail that can
damage homes and businesses, break glass, destroy vehicles, and cause bodily injury to people, pets, and
livestock. One or more severe thunderstorms occurring over a short period can lead to flooding and cause
extensive damage, power and communication outages, and agricultural damage.
In extreme or isolated circumstances, severe thunderstorms can bring straight-line winds in excess of 100
mph. Straight-line winds are responsible for most thunderstorm damage. High winds can damage trees,
homes (especially mobile homes), and businesses and can knock vehicles off of the road. The power of
lightning’s electrical charge and intense heat can electrocute people and livestock on contact, split trees,
ignite fires, and cause electrical failures.
Communities considered these risks and common occurrences when scoring severity of impact.
Communities that scored impacts lower (little to no, minimal property damage, minimal environmental
impacts, short-term effects on critical facilities operation) considered the effects of an average storm for
their city. Communities that scored impacts higher (significant property damage, serious injury, shutdown
of critical facilities for days), they considered a worst-case scenario storm.
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Magnitude/Severity Score: 2 – Limited
Warning Time Score: 3—6-12 hours
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Duration Score: 1—Less than 1 day
increasing. However, with summer temperatures becoming warmer and humidity levels increasing, an
increase in the likelihood of these hazards is plausible.
Vulnerability
In general, assets in the County are vulnerable to thunderstorms winds, lightning and hail including
people, crops, livestock, vehicles, and built structures. Although this hazard results in high annual losses,
generally private property insurance and crop insurance cover the majority of losses. Considering
insurance coverage as a recovery capability and therefore mitigation of devastating impacts to the
economy, the overall impact on jurisdictions is reduced.
People
People in unprotected areas, mobile homes, or automobiles during a storm are especially at risk of
thunderstorm, lightning, and hailstorms. Sudden strong winds often accompany a severe thunderstorm
and may blow down trees across roads and power lines. Lightning presents the greatest immediate
danger to people and livestock during a thunderstorm. It is the second most frequent weather-related
killer in the U.S. with nearly 100 deaths and 500 injuries each year. Floods and flash floods are the number
one cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. Agricultural crops such as corn and beans are particularly
vulnerable to hailstorms stripping the plant of its leaves.
Livestock and people who are outdoors, especially under a tree or other natural lightning rods, in or on
water, or on or near hilltops are at risk from lightning. Hail can be very dangerous to people, pets, and
livestock if shelter is not available. Flash floods and tornadoes can develop during thunderstorms as well.
People who are in automobiles or along low-lying areas when flash flooding occurs and people who are in
mobile homes are vulnerable to the impacts of thunderstorms.
Property
Hail can also do considerable damage to vehicles and buildings. Hail only rarely results in loss of life
directly, although injuries can occur. According to the NCEI Storm Events Database, between 1950 and
2020 approximately $970,500 in property damages and $3,229,000 in crop damages occurred in Taylor
County from hail and lightning. Further detail on damage figures is provided in Table 3-45 above. As
mentioned throughout this section, these damages are often insured.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Hail can lead to the temporary incapacitation of roads when small hail stones build up so deep, they block
roads. Hail has also been observed to block storm drains and prevent proper runoff, potentially resulting
in flooding as a secondary hazard. Most structures, including the County’s critical facilities, should be able
to provide adequate protection from hail but the structures themselves could suffer broken windows,
damaged roofs and siding, and dented exteriors. Those facilities with backup generators are better
equipped to handle a severe weather situation should the power go out. Critical facilities and
infrastructure can potentially be damaged by a direct lightning strike. The effect of wind, combined with
lightning, rain and hail, on power delivery is a significant factor when assessing current development
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exposure.
Economy
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The economic impact of a severe thunderstorm is typically short-term. Lightning and high wind events
can cause power outages and fires. Generally, long-term economic impacts center more around hazards
that cascade from a severe thunderstorm, including wildfires ignited by lightning. Similarly, with the
previous sections, lightning can cause structural damage or damage to electrical systems to private
buildings as well as critical infrastructure. Hail and high wind damage can also force the temporary or
extended closure of businesses, resulting in lost income and wages in addition to the recovery costs of
repairing damage.
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Development Trends
Any additional future development will result in more property being vulnerable to damages from severe
thunderstorms, lightning and hail. To minimize vulnerability, protective measures could be implemented
such as wind-resistant construction, lightning rods, surge protection, and use of materials less prone to
hail/wind damage.
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3.5.19 Tornado/Windstorm
Hazard Score Calculation
4 4 3 1 3.55 High
Hazard Profile/Description
This hazard section discusses both tornado and windstorm.
Tornado: The NWS defines a tornado as “a violently rotating column of air extending from a
thunderstorm to the ground.” It is usually spawned by a thunderstorm and produced when cool air
overrides a layer of warm air, forcing the warm air to rise rapidly. Often, vortices remain suspended in the
atmosphere as funnel clouds. When the lower tip of a vortex touches the ground, it becomes a tornado
and a force of destruction.
Tornadoes are the most violent of all atmospheric storms and are capable of tremendous destruction.
Wind speeds can exceed 250 miles per hour, and damage paths can be more than one mile wide and 50
miles long. Tornadoes have been known to lift and move objects weighing more than 300 tons a distance
of 30 feet, toss homes more than 300 feet from their foundations, and siphon millions of tons of water
from water bodies. Tornadoes also generate a tremendous amount of flying debris or “missiles,” which
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often become airborne shrapnel that causes additional damage. If wind speeds are high enough, missiles
can be thrown at a building with enough force to penetrate windows, roofs, and walls. However, the less
spectacular damage is much more common.
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Windstorm: Windstorms for purposes of this plan refer to other non-tornadic damaging winds of
thunderstorms including downbursts, microbursts, and straight-line winds. Downbursts are localized
currents of air blasting down from a thunderstorm, which induce an outward burst of damaging wind on
or near the ground. Microbursts are minimized downbursts covering an area of less than 2.5 miles across.
They include a strong wind shear (a rapid change in the direction of wind over a short distance) near the
surface. Microbursts may or may not include precipitation and can produce winds at speeds of more than
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150 miles per hour. Straight-line winds are generally any thunderstorm wind that is not associated with
rotation. It is these winds, which can exceed 100 mph, which represent the most common type of severe
weather and are responsible for most wind damage related to thunderstorms. Since thunderstorms do not
have narrow tracks like tornadoes, the associated wind damage can be extensive and affect entire (and
multiple) counties. Objects like trees, barns, outbuildings, high-profile vehicles, and power lines/poles can
be toppled or destroyed, and roofs, windows, and homes can be damaged as wind speeds increase.
Strong winds can occur year-round in Iowa. These winds typically develop with strong pressure gradients
and gusty frontal passages. The closer and stronger two systems are, (one high pressure, one low
pressure) the stronger the pressure gradient, and therefore, the stronger the winds are. Objects such as
trees, barns, outbuildings, high-profile vehicles, and power line/poles can be toppled or destroyed, and
roofs, windows, and homes can be damaged as wind speeds increase. Downbursts can be particularly
dangerous to aviation.
Derecho: A derecho is a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm. Derechos are associated with
bands of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms variously known as bow echoes, squall lines, or quasi-
linear convective systems. Derechos are capable of producing a similar level of destruction as a tornado
however the damage typically occurs in one direction along a relatively straight path. According to NOAA,
if the swath of wind damage extends for more than 250 miles (about 400 kilometers), includes wind gusts
of at least 58 mph (93 km/h) along most of its length, and also includes several, well-separated 75 mph
(121 km/h) or greater gusts, then the event may be classified as a derecho. Because they occur most often
during the warm season, derechos pose particular risk to those recreating outdoors, potentially
overturning boats and recreational vehicles and leading to death or injury from falling trees, tree limbs,
and other flying debris. One of the nation’s most damaging derecho event occurred in the summer of
2020 in Marshall, Tama and Clinton counties, Iowa.
Location
Tornadoes can occur in the entire planning area. Figure 3-47 illustrates the number of F3, F4, and F5
tornadoes recorded in the United States per 3,700 square miles between 1950 and 2006. Taylor County is
in the section with dark orange shading, indicating more than 15 tornadoes of this magnitude during this
57-year period.
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Source: FEMA 320, Taking Shelter from the Storm, 3rd edition Note: Blue arrow is approximate location of Taylor County
All of Taylor County is susceptible to high wind events. The County is located in Wind Zone IV, which is
susceptible to winds up to 250 mph. All of the participating jurisdictions are vulnerable to this hazard.
Figure 3-48 shows the wind zones of the United States based on maximum wind speeds; the entire State
of Iowa is located within Wind Zone IV, the highest inland category.
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Historical Occurrences
Tornadoes
According to NOAA statistics Taylor County had 35 recorded tornado events from 1950 to 2020. Of these,
four (4) were F3, seven (7) were F2, ten (10) were F1, six (6) were F0, three (3) were EF1 and one (1) was an
EF2. These tornadoes did not cause any fatalities, 16 injuries, and over $19 million in property damages.
Twelve of the injuries occurred in the 1971 F2 tornado in Conway and $10 million in damages occurred in
the May 2011 tornado in Lenox. Table 3-46 summarizes these events.
Date Magnitude Deaths Injuries Property Damages Crop Damages Length Width
4/5/1954 F2 0 0 $250 $0 11.5 333
4/5/1954 F1 0 0 $250 $0 0 200
6/29/1958 F0 0 0 $2,500 $0 0.5 50
7/14/1958 F3 0 0 $250,000 $0 3.6 100
10/14/1966 F2 0 0 $25,000 $0 1.5 100
Date Magnitude Deaths Injuries Property Damages Crop Damages Length Width
10/14/1966 F2 0 0 $0 $0 0 33
5/5/1971 F3 0 12 $250,000 $0 2 400
5/5/1971 F2 0 1 $25,000 $0 0 33
5/23/1971 F1 0 0 $30 $0 0 33
6/13/1972 F1 0 0 $2,500 $0 0.5 100
4/23/1975 F0 0 0 $0 $0 0 33
3/29/1979 F3 0 1 $2,500,000 $0 29.6 500
4/11/1981 F2 0 2 $2,500,000 $0 6.9 50
3/19/1982 F1 0 0 $2,500 $0 2 100
5/1/1983 F1 0 0 $25,000 $0 2 20
6/7/1984 F3 0 0 $2,500,000 $0 7 100
5/19/1987 F0 0 0 $2,500 $0 6 13
5/6/1993 F2 0 0 $500,000 $0 9 70
6/5/1994 F1 0 0 $500 $0 0.1 20
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5/27/1996 F1 0 0 $2,000 $0 0.3 45
4/5/1999 F1 0 0 $100,000 $0 3 25
4/5/1999 F0 0 0 $2,000 $0 0.2 20
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4/8/1999 F2 0 0 $500,000 $0 3 500
5/16/1999 F1 0 0 $50,000 $0 1.2 40
9/7/1999 F0 0 0 $0 $2,000 0.7 30
7/26/2002 F1 0 0 $10,000 $5,000 7 60
6/13/2005 F0 0 0 $0 $1,000 0.2 30
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The map in Figure 3-49 shows the paths of the events in the table above. Note: Not all events had
available latitude and longitude coordinates. As a result, not all events are displayed.
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The May 11, 2011, tornado was the most damaging tornado in Taylor County in recent history. There were
two tornadoes on this day, an EF0 and EF1, both causing damage in Lenox. At least 35 blocks in the town
received some damage. The EF0 tornado had a peak wind of about 80 miles per hour with a 0.3-mile
width and length of 0.6 miles. The second tornado, an EF1 had peak winds of 105 miles per hour, a width
of 0.3 miles and a path of 1.2 miles long. There were no fatalities or serious injuries. Combined damages
totaled approximately $15 million. The Lenox School District reported nearly $10,000 in damages.
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Taylor County has been included in six Presidential Disaster Declarations that involved tornadoes since
1965. See Table 3-2 in the Hazard Identification section for additional details.
Windstorms
According to the NCEI database, there were 118 thunderstorm and high wind events in Taylor County
from 1956 to 2020. During this time period there were no reported deaths or injuries. There was an
estimated $898,240 in property damages. Recorded wind gusts ranged from a high of 61 knots to a low of
35 knots. Note: not all events had provided magnitude data. Table 3-47rovides a summary of the wind
speeds reported for the wind events.
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69 1
70 3
74 2
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75 1
81 1
Not Reported 13
Total 118
Source: NCEI
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Members of the HMPC noted that in 2019 Gravity experienced a wind event that resulted in significant
tree damages. Some roads were closed for a short period while clean up took place.
The following figure shows the general location of each of the windstorm events recorded in the County
since 1950.
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Table 3-48 shows the shows the insurable crop insurance claims paid in Taylor County as a result of
tornado and windstorms. Between 2007 and 2020 Taylor County lost 1,531 acres of crops and $184,641
indemnity payments due to tornadoes and severe wind.
Table 3-48 Crop Insurance Claims Paid in Taylor County from Tornadoes and Windstorms,
2007-2020
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Wind/Excess Wind 73.73 $8,401
Total 1,531 $184,641
Source: USDA Risk Management Agency, 2007-2020
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Probability of Future Occurrence
NOAA reported 35 tornadoes in Taylor County in a 70-year time period, which calculates to 50 percent
chance of a tornado in any given year. Therefore, it is a high probability that some portion of Taylor
County will experience tornado activity in any given year.
According to NCEI, there were 118 separate windstorm events from 1956 to 2020 (64-year period) in
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Taylor County. Based on this data there is a 54 percent annual probability of severe wind events in any
given year. Therefore, the probability rating is “Highly Likely”.
Probability Score: 4—Highly Likely
Figure 3-52 below shows the probability of a windstorm event (65 knots or greater) in the U.S. The Taylor
County planning area is colored lime green, showing that 65+ knot winds are probable to occur 1.50 to
1.75 times a year.
Figure 3-52 Annual Windstorm Probability (65+ knots), United States 1980-1994
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Source: Natural Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/users/brooks/public_html/bigwind.gif;
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Figure 3-53 shows the annual probability of a derecho in the United States. Taylor County falls within the
area of one derecho every two years.
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Magnitude and Severity (Extent)
Iowa is located in a part of the United States where tornadoes are a common occurrence. Iowa has
experienced 1,237 tornadoes from 2000 through 2020 (20-year period) with approximately 91 percent of
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them being rated EF0 and EF1, and 9 percent rated F2 through F5. Only one EF5 rated tornado has
occurred in Iowa during this timeframe (Parkersburg in 2008). Since 2020, there have been on average 61
tornadoes per year in Iowa. Most tornadoes occurred in May and June but can occur during any month.
Also, midafternoon until around sunset is the peak time of day for tornado activity. There have been 830
injuries and 30 deaths attributable to tornadoes from 1980 through 2019. (NWS, Iowa Tornado
Climatology Report 1980-2019).
Tornadoes are classified according to the EF Scale. The Enhanced F- Scale (Table 3-49) attempts to rank
tornadoes according to wind speed based on the damage caused. This update to the original F scale was
implemented in the U.S. on February 1, 2007.
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EF0 65-85 53.5% Light. Peels surface off some roofs; some damage to gutters or
siding; branches broken off trees; shallow-rooted trees pushed
over. Confirmed tornadoes with no reported damage (i.e. those
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EF1 86-110 31.6% Moderate. Roofs severely stripped; mobile homes overturned or
badly damaged; loss of exterior doors; windows and other glass
broken.
EF2 111-135 10.7% Considerable. Roofs torn off well-constructed houses;
foundations of frame homes shifted; mobile homes complete
destroyed; large trees snapped or uprooted; light object missiles
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The advancement in weather forecasting has provided for the ability to predict severe weather that is
likely to produce tornadoes days in advance. Tornado watches can be delivered to those in the path of
these storms several hours in advance. Lead-time for actual tornado warnings is about 30 minutes.
Tornadoes have been known to change paths very rapidly, thus limiting the time in which to take shelter.
Tornadoes may not be visible on the ground if they occur after sundown or due to blowing dust or driving
rain and hail.
The NWS can issue High Wind Watch, High Wind Warning, and Wind Advisory to the public. The
following are the definitions of these issuances:
• High Wind Watch: This is issued when there is the potential of high wind speeds developing that
may pose a hazard or is life threatening.
• High Wind Warning: The 1-minute surface winds of 35 knots (40 mph) or greater lasting for one
hour or longer, or winds gusting to 50 knots (58 mph) or greater, regardless of duration, that are
either expected or observed over land.
• High Wind Advisory: This is issued when high wind speeds may pose a hazard. Sustained winds 25
to 39 mph and/or gusts to 57 mph.
Damage from windstorms can be difficult to quantify. Wind, by itself, has not historically caused high
insured dollar losses. For the insurance industry to track a weather event, it must be a large enough storm
that insurance companies may declare it a catastrophe, and then damage estimates for auto and
homeowner claims are collected and published. This generally equates to damages in excess of $25
million, though significant events impacting small communities are also tracked occasionally.
Table 3-51 shows The Beaufort Wind Scale. The replication of the scale only reflects land-based effects.
The County planning area can experience up through Beaufort 12 events.
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Beaufort Description Windspeed Land Conditions
Number (Knots)
0 Calm
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1 Light air 1–3 Wind motion visible in smoke.
2 Light breeze 4–6 Wind felt on exposed skin. Leaves rustle.
3 Gentle breeze 7 – 10 Leaves and smaller twigs in constant motion.
4 Moderate breeze 11 – 16 Dust and loose paper raised. Small branches begin to move.
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5 Fresh breeze 17 – 21 Branches of a moderate size move. Small trees begin to sway.
6 Strong breeze 22 – 27 Large branches in motion. Whistling heard in overhead wires.
Umbrella use becomes difficult. Empty plastic garbage cans tip
over.
7 Near Gale 28 – 33 Whole trees in motion. Effort needed to walk against the wind.
8 Gale 34 – 40 Some twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road. Progress on
foot is seriously impeded.
9 Strong gale 41 – 47 Slight structural damage occurs; slate blows off roofs.
10 Storm 48 – 55 Seldom experienced on land; trees uprooted or broken;
considerable structural damage.
11 Violent storm 56-63
12 Hurricane 64+
Source: NOAA
Due to the potential for damaging tornadoes in the planning area, the magnitude was determined to be a
4, catastrophic.
Severity of Impact
The severity of damage from both tornadoes and severe windstorms can be very high. Impacts can range
from broken tree branches, shingle damage to roofs, and some broken windows all the way to complete
destruction and disintegration of well-constructed structures, infrastructure, and trees. Injury or death
related to tornadoes most often occurs when buildings collapse; people are hit by flying objects or are
caught trying to escape the tornado in a vehicle.
Speed of Onset
Tornadoes strike with an incredible velocity. Wind speeds may approach 300 mph and the storm can
travel across the ground at more than 70 mph. These winds can uproot trees and structures and turn
harmless objects into deadly missiles, all in a matter of seconds. The advancement in weather forecasting
has allowed tornado watches to be delivered to those in the path of these storms up to hours in advance.
The best lead-time for a specific severe storm and tornado is about 30 minutes.
Tornadoes have been known to change paths very rapidly, thus limiting the time in which to take shelter.
Tornadoes may not be visible on the ground due to blowing dust or driving rain and hail. Communities
would have minimal to no warning time in the event of a tornado.
Wind speeds may approach 120 miles per hour and the storm can travel across the ground at more than
30 mph. These winds can uproot trees and structures and turn harmless objects in to deadly missiles, all in
a matter of seconds. The advancement of weather forecasting has allowed tornado watches to be
broadcasted to those in the path of these storms hours in advance. The best lead-time for a specific
severe storm is about 30 minutes.
Magnitude Score: 4—Catastrophic
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Warning Time Score: 3—6 to 12 hours
Duration Score: 1—less than 6 hours
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Climate Change Considerations
The influence of climate change on wind is not fully understood at this time. While there have been
several significant wind events in recent years, there is not enough observations to determine if there are
any long-term trends in frequency of severity of events (U.S. Global Change Research Program 2018).
NASA’s Earth Observatory has conducted studies in 2013, which aim to understand the interaction
between climate change and tornadoes. Based on these studies meteorologists are unsure why some
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thunderstorms generate tornadoes and others don’t, beyond knowing that they require a certain type of
wind shear. Tornadoes spawn from approximately one percent of thunderstorms, usually supercell
thunderstorms that are in a wind shear environment that promotes rotation. Some studies show a
potential for a decrease in wind shear in mid-latitude areas. The level of significance of this hazard should
be revisited over time.
Vulnerability
Overview
Taylor County is located in a region of the U.S. with high frequency of dangerous and destructive
tornadoes and is referred to as “Tornado Alley”. Figure 3-54 is based on areas where dangerous tornadoes
are most likely to take place.
Source: http://www.tornadochaser.net/tornalley.html
People
It can be assumed that the entire planning area is exposed to some extent to tornadoes. Certain areas are
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more exposed due to geographic location and local weather patterns. Likelihood of injuries and fatalities
would increase if warning time was limited before the event or if residents were unable to find adequate
shelter.
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Vulnerable populations are the elderly, low income or linguistically isolated populations, people with life
threatening illnesses, and residents living in areas that are isolated from major roads. Power outages can
be life threatening to those dependent on electricity for life support. Isolation of these populations is a
significant concern. These populations face isolation and exposure after tornado events and could suffer
more secondary effects of the hazard. According to the U.S. Health and Human Services emPOWER
database, 7% of Medicare Beneficiaries in the County rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment to
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be able to live independently in their homes. These populations face isolation and exposure after tornado
and severe wind events and could suffer more secondary effects of the hazard.
Individuals caught in the path of a tornado who are unable to seek appropriate shelter are especially
vulnerable. This may include individuals who are out in the open, in cars, or who do not have access to
basements, cellars, or safe rooms.
Property
Light frame structures, such as mobile homes, outbuildings and sheds are considered especially
vulnerable to damage from tornadoes and severe wind event. Those most at risk from tornadoes include
people living in mobile homes, campgrounds, and other dwellings without secure foundations or
basements. People in automobiles are also very vulnerable to twisters.
Statewide, mobile homes represent about 3.7% of total housing compared to 6.1% Nationwide. Mobile
homes in Taylor County represent 5.6%. Table 3-52 shows the breakdown of mobile for each jurisdiction.
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of estimated losses are not available due to the complexity and multiple variables associated with this
hazard. Refer to the electric power loss of use estimates provided in Table 3-34 in the Infrastructure
Failure hazard section.
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Economy
In Taylor County, the NCEI estimate for past property damages resulting from tornadoes in the past 70
years was $24,510,030. This translates to an annualized loss of over $700,287. For windstorms, NCEI loss
estimates were $898,240 for the past 64 years. This translates to an annualized loss of nearly $7,612.
In terms of crop losses, between 2007 and 2020 there were $184,641 indemnity payments due to tornado
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and severe wind events in the County. The equates to an annualized crop loss of $18,464.
Historic, Cultural, and Natural Resources
Environmental features are exposed to tornado and wind risk, although damages are generally localized
to the path of the tornado however, if a tornado or windstorm impacts facilities that store HAZMAT areas
impacted by material releases may be especially vulnerable. Historic buildings built prior to modern
building codes would be more prone to damage. Cultural facilities could also be temporarily shut down
until debris is cleaned and residents are accounted for. Some cultural facilities such as community centers,
parks, or gas stations may be turned into impromptu emergency centers where emergency supplies can
be distributed, and emergency personnel can organize
Development Trends
While population trends and development trends have been decreasing the County in the past 10 years,
the HMPC noted many homes in the planning area do not have basements causing the vulnerability to
both tornadoes and windstorms continue to be high in the County.
Public buildings such as schools, government offices, as well as other buildings with a high occupancy and
mobile home parks should consider inclusion of a tornado saferoom to shelter occupants in the event of a
tornado.
Windstorm is primarily a public safety and economic concern, and the planning area is located in a region
with very high frequency of occurrence. Windstorm can cause damage to structures and power lines
which in turn create hazardous conditions for people. Debris flying from high wind events can shatter
windows in structures and vehicles and can harm people that are not adequately sheltered.
Although windstorms occur frequently in the planning area and damages to property occur, much of the
damage is generally covered by private insurance. This results in less impact to individuals and the
community since recovery is facilitated by insurance.
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Gravity 4 4 3 1 3.55 High
Lenox 4 4 3 1 3.55 High
New Market 4 4 3 1 3.55 High
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Sharpsburg 4 4 3 1 3.55 High
Bedford CSD 4 4 3 1 3.55 High
Lenox CSD 4 4 3 1 3.55 High
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4 4 4 1 3.70 High
Hazard Profile/Description
This hazard encompasses the following: air transportation, highway transportation, and railway
transportation. The transportation incidents can involve any mode of transportation that directly threatens
life, and which results in property damage and/or death(s)/injury(s) and/or adversely impact a
community’s capabilities to provide emergency services. Incidents involving buses and other high
occupancy vehicles could trigger a response that exceeds the normal day-to-day capabilities of response
agencies.
An air transportation incident may involve a military, commercial or private aircraft. Air transportation is
playing a more prominent role in transportation as a whole. Airplanes and helicopters are used to
transport passengers for business and recreation as well as thousands of tons of cargo. A variety of
circumstances can result in an air transportation incident; mechanical failure, pilot error, enemy attack,
terrorism, weather conditions and on-board fire can all lead to an air transportation incident.
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Highway transportation incidents are very complex. Contributing factors can include a roadway’s design
and/or pavement conditions (e.g., rain, snow and ice), a vehicle’s mechanical condition (e.g. tires, brakes,
lights), a driver’s behavior (e.g. speeding, inattentiveness and seat belt usage), the driver’s condition (e.g.
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alcohol use, age-related conditions, physical impairment) and driver inattention by using a wireless device.
In fact, the driver’s behavior and condition factors are the primary cause in an estimated 67 percent of
highway crashes and a contributing factor in an estimated 95 percent of all crashes.
A railway transportation incident is a train accident that directly threatens life and/or property, or
adversely impacts a community’s capabilities to provide emergency services. Railway incidents may
include derailments, collisions and highway/rail crossing accidents. Train incidents can result from a
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variety of causes; human error, mechanical failure, faulty signals, and/or problems with the track. Results
of an incident can range from minor “track hops” to catastrophic hazardous material incidents and even
human/animal casualties. With so many miles of track in Iowa, vehicles must cross the railroad tracks at
numerous at-grade crossings.
Location
Highways/Roads
No major U.S. highways or interstate highways are located in Taylor County. State Highways 2, 25, and
148 add up to 58 miles of State Highways to the County. Several hard surfaced county roads connect
these major highways to the smaller communities.
Rail Transport
No railroads currently operate in Taylor County. The last active lines in the County were abandoned in the
1980s.
Air Transport
The only airport in Taylor County is the Bedford Municipal Airport, located approximately 3 miles south of
Bedford. The airport is used by transient general aviation and general local aviation. It has one runway:
Runway 18/36 which is a 2,710 feet X 100 feet turf runway (http://www.airnav.com/airport/y46).
This airport is owned and operated by the City of Bedford and is not included in the NPIAS. The Iowa
Aviation System Plan identifies the Bedford Municipal Airport as a Basic Service airport.
Figure 3-55 shows the major transportation routes including the locations of bridges in the planning area
included in the National Bridge Inventory data set within the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level
Data (HIFLD) 2020 database. One of the database items in the National Bridge Inventory is a “scour index”,
which is used to quantify the vulnerability of a bridge to scour from flood or erosion. Bridges with a scour
index between 1 and 3 are considered “scour critical”, or a bridge with a foundation element determined
to be unstable for the observed or evaluated scour condition. Of the 242 bridges in the County, there are
three bridges identified as scour critical within the planning area, two of which are considered to be in
poor condition and one in poor condition. Overall, as shown in Figure 3-55 there are 97 bridges (scour
critical, non-scour critical and undetermined) that are considered in poor condition. According to the
HMPC the County is currently going through a bridge evaluation of the bridge in the County.
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Historical Occurrences
Air Transportation Incidents:
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), no aviation incidents occurred in the last
50 years in Taylor County.
Highway Transportation Incidents:
The Iowa DOT’s Office of Traffic and Safety maintains traffic crash statistics and location maps by county
and cities in Iowa. Figure 3-56 shows the trend of crashes in Taylor County between 2011 and 2020. Of the
crashes recorded, 68% resulted in property damages only; 5.5% resulted in serious injuries, while 12%
resulted in possible/unknown injuries, 12% resulted in minor injuries. The remaining 2% were fatal crashes.
Figure 3-57 compares rural and urban crashes in Taylor County between 2011 and 2020. In that time
period 72% were rural crashes compared to 29% urban crashes.
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Source: Iowa DOT’s Office of Traffic and Safety
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Probability of Future Occurrence
A major transportation incident can occur at any time, even though traffic engineering, inspection of
traffic facilities, and land use management of areas adjacent to roads and highways has increased,
incidents continue to occur. Current population trends indicate a decrease in population in Taylor County.
If the volume of traffic on the county roads, highways and interstates decreases with population
decreases, the number of traffic accidents will likely also decrease. The combination of cars and trucks,
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farm equipment, wildlife, unpredictable weather conditions, potential mechanical problems and human
error always leaves the potential for a transportation accident.
Based on the available information, the probability of air transportation, highway, or railway incident that
directly threatens life and which results in property damage and/or death(s)/injury(s) and/or adversely
impact a community’s capabilities to provide emergency services is “Highly Likely” with greater than 33
percent likelihood to occur in any given year.
Probability Score: 4—Highly Likely
Depending on the materials involved, evacuations may occur, moving residents away from dangerous
products and the possibility of explosion. Gases, liquids, and solids can contaminate air, soil, and water in
and near the incident scene. If a railway incident occurred in an urban area, the health and welfare of
thousands of people could be put in jeopardy. Damage may be limited to the train, railcars, and cargo
involved, but it can also include loss of production, business disruption due to evacuations, and business
disruptions of those served by the railroad. Business and traffic disruptions could last several days until
the clean up efforts are complete.
Speed of Onset
There is usually no warning of highway incidents. During snowstorms and other weather events that may
impede travel, travelers, response agencies, and hospitals alike can be notified of hazardous travel
conditions. All jurisdictions in Taylor County scored this hazard as a 4, meaning that there would be little
to no warning time for a transportation incident.
Magnitude Score: 4—Catastrophic
Warning Time Score: 4—Minimal or no warning
Duration Score: 1—Less than 6 hours
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If projections regarding milder winters come to fruition, climate change impacts may reduce the number
of transportation incidents associated with some severe weather. However, if ice occurs, rather than snow,
this could result in higher incidents of weather-related accidents.
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Vulnerability
Overview
Transportation incidents can almost always be expected to occur in specific areas, on or near airports,
roadways or other transportation infrastructure. The exception is air transportation incidents can occur
anywhere. However, it is difficult to predict the magnitude of any specific event because these types of
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events are accidental and the circumstances surrounding these events will impact the extent of damage or
injuries that occur. The number of urban and rural highway/roadway transportation accidents from 2011
to 2020 was a total of 492 crashes during this nine-year time period (average 55 per year). Ten (10)
fatalities occurred during this time period. Transportation incident has resulted in the most deaths
historically in the County compared to other hazards.
Due to the potential for fatalities to occur, this hazard received a magnitude rating of “Catastrophic”.
People
Those who use the surface transportation system are most vulnerable. Travelers, truckers, delivery
personnel, and commuters are at risk the entire time they are on the road. During high traffic hours and
holidays the number of people on the road in Taylor County is higher. This is also true before and after
major gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and conventions. Pedestrians and citizens of the
community are less vulnerable but still not immune from the impacts of a highway incident.
Property
No countywide or jurisdictional loss estimate were calculated due to lack of data. Generally, property
involved by such an event would likely be insured but impacts would be small, targeted, and would likely
not last for a long period of time.
Critical Facilities and Infrastructure
Incidents involving highway accidents could result in injuries, fatalities, closed roads, rerouted traffic, and a
strain on the capacity of emergency service personnel who must respond to the incident. In general, all
critical facilities in all jurisdictions could be vulnerable to transportation incident. Highway accidents could
affect the flow of traffic and ability of residents to travel within and out of the jurisdiction.
Economy
The U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration issued a technical advisory in 1994 providing suggested
estimates of the cost of traffic crashes to be used for planning purposes. These figures were converted
from 1994 dollars to 2020 dollars. The costs are listed below in Table 3-53.
Fatal $4,632,233
Evident Injury $64,139
Possible Injury $33,851
Property Damage Only $3,563
Source: U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration Technical Advisory T 7570.2, 1994. Adjusted to 2020 dollars.
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Development Trends
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Overall, Taylor County has seen a decrease in population of more than 10 percent from 2000 to 2014
estimates. With decreased population, comes decreased traffic volume on Taylor County Roads, which
could in turn translate to a decrease in traffic accidents.
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Lenox CSD 4 4 4 1 3.70 High
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Thunderstorm/Lightning/Ha
Jurisdiction
Animal/Plant/Crop Disease
Transportation Incident
Infrastructure Failure
Radiological Incident
Tornado/Windstorm
Hazardous Materials
Grass/Wildland Fire
Human Disease
Expansive Soils
Cyber Attacks
Extreme Heat
Dam Failure
Earthquake
Terrorism
Sinkholes
Landslide
Flooding
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Drought
Incident
il
Unincorporated M M M H L L M M M L H H L L H L M M H H
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Taylor County
Bedford M M M M L L M M M L H H L L H L M M H H
Blockton M M N/A M L L M M M L H H L L H L M M H H
Clearfield M M N/A M L L M M M L H H L L H L M M H H
Conway M M N/A M L L M L M L H H L L H L M M H H
Gravity M M N/A M L L M L M L H H L L H L M M H H
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Lenox M M M M L L M M M L H H L L H L M M H H
Sharpsburg M M N/A M L L M M M L H H L L H L M M H H
4 Mitigation Strategy
The plan shall include a mitigation strategy that provides the jurisdiction’s blueprint for reducing the
potential losses identified in the risk assessment, based on existing authorities, policies, programs and
resources, and its ability to expand on and improve these existing tools.
This section presents the mitigation strategy updated by the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
(HMPC) based on the updated risk assessment. The mitigation strategy was developed through a
collaborative group process and consists of updated general goal statements to guide the jurisdictions in
efforts to lessen disaster impacts as well as specific mitigation actions that can be put in place to directly
reduce vulnerability to hazards and losses. The following definitions are based upon those found in the
March 2013 Local Mitigation Planning Handbook:
Goals are general guidelines that explain what the community wants to achieve with the plan. They are
usually broad policy-type statements that are long-term, and they represent visions for reducing or
avoiding losses from the identified hazards.
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Mitigation Actions are specific actions that help achieve goals.
4.1 Goals
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44 CFR Requirement §201.6(c)(3)(i):
[The hazard mitigation strategy shall include a] description of mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long-
term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.
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This planning effort is an update to an existing hazard mitigation plan. Therefore, the goals from the 2016
Taylor County Hazard Mitigation Plan were reviewed to determine if they are still valid. The HMPC
participated in a facilitated discussion during their second meeting to review and update the plan goals.
To ensure that the goals are comprehensive and support State goals, the 2018 State Hazard Mitigation
Plan goals were reviewed as well. The HMPC also reviewed common categories of mitigation goals from
other plans.
After discussion, the HMPC decided to maintain the 2016 goals as written::
Goal 1: Reduce the extent of fatalities and injuries due to hazards.
Goal 2: Ensure the continuity of local government and business.
Goal 3: Improve coordination and communication with other relevant organizations.
Goal 4: Reduce damages to existing and future development.
The mitigation strategy shall include a section that identifies and analyzes a comprehensive range of
specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce the effects of each hazard, with
particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure.
During the second meeting of the HMPC, the results of the risk assessment update were provided to the
HMPC members for review and the key issues were identified for specific hazards. Meeting #2 concluded
with an introduction to mitigation actions to prompt discussions within and among the jurisdictions about
any new mitigation actions as well as on-going actions from the existing plans. In addition, Wood
provided the HMPC with information on the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Division’s funding priorities and the types of mitigation actions generally recognized by FEMA.
The focus of Meeting 3 was to update the mitigation strategy. For a comprehensive range of mitigation
alternatives/actions to consider, the HMPC reviewed the following information during Meeting 3:
• Existing Actions submitted in the previous mitigation plan,
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• Recap of Hazard Significance/Key Issues from Risk Assessment,
• State Priorities for Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants,
• Public Opinion from Surveys,
•
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FEMA Mitigation Ideas (2013), and
• FEMA Mitigatin Action Portfolio (2020)
In development of each jurisdiction’s final mitigation strategy for submission to the plan, the jurisdictions
were presented with a recap of the hazard significance levels and the key issues from the risk assessment
to think about the vulnerabilities specific to their jurisdiction. They were also provided a link to the
publication, FEMA Mitigation Action Ideas, 2013, and the 2020 FEMA Mitigation Action Portfolio (MAP).
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These documents were developed by FEMA to provide resources that communities can use to identify and
evaluate a range of potential mitigation alternatives/actions for reducing risk to natural hazards and
disasters. Then for comparison, the results of the public survey were provided, which included typical
mitigation actions that the public might support.
4.2.1 Prioritization Process
The STAPLEE prioritization method in general is a tool used to assess the costs, benefits, and overall
feasibility of mitigation actions. STAPLEE stands for the following:
Social: Will the action be acceptable to the community? Could it have an unfair effect on a particular
segment of the population?
Technical: Is the action technically feasible? Are there secondary impacts? Does it offer a long-term
solution?
Administrative: Are there adequate staffing, funding, and maintenance capabilities to implement the
project?
Political: Will there be adequate political and public support for the project?
Legal: Does your jurisdiction have the legal authority to implement the action?
Economic: Is the action cost-beneficial? Is there funding available? Will the action contribute to the local
economy?
Environmental: Will there be negative environmental consequences from the action? Does it comply with
environmental regulations? Is it consistent with community environmental goals?
Additional questions were added to the modified mitigation action/STAPLEE worksheet to include
elements to consider mitigation effectiveness related to protection of life and reduction of damages as
well as reduction in the need for response actions, and the potential for benefits to exceed the cost.
As part of the mitigation strategy meeting discussion, jurisdictions were instructed to consider the
potential cost of each project in relation to the anticipated future cost savings. This type of discussion
allowed the committee as a whole to understand the broad priorities and discussion of the types of
projects most beneficial to all jurisdictions within Taylor County.
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• Delete
• Annual Implementation
• Continue In-Progress
•
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Continue Not Started
Based on updates from each jurisdiction, of the 72 actions in the previous plan, 11 have been completed,
1 was deleted, and 62 are continued in the plan update. Table 4-2 contains the actions that were either
completed or deleted from the mitigation strategy, along with any applicable comments, from the 2016
plan.
The jurisdictions were encouraged to be comprehensive and include all appropriate actions to work
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toward becoming more disaster resilient. However, they were encouraged to maintain a realistic approach
and were reminded that the hazard mitigation plan is a “living document”. As capabilities, vulnerabilities,
or the nature of hazards that threaten each jurisdiction change, the mitigation actions can and should be
updated to reflect those changes, including addition or deletion of actions, as appropriate. Jurisdictions
also revisited the priority ratings and adjusted where necessary. A concerted effort to ensure the
mitigation strategy is realistic and achievable resulted in several actions being considered no longer
relevant or realistic, and thus have been deleted. The continued actions are discussed in additional detail,
along with the new actions in Section 4.4.
Table 4-1 Summary of Progress of Actions in Previous Plan and New Actions
Grand
Continue In- Continue Not New Total
Jurisdiction Completed Deleted
Progress* Started Actions 2022
Actions
Unincorporated 2 0 3 0 3 6
Bedford 1 0 12 3 1 16
Blockton 2 1 7 0 2 9
Clearfield 3 0 7 2 1 10
Conway 0 0 4 2 1 7
Grand
Continue In- Continue Not New Total
Jurisdiction Completed Deleted
Progress* Started Actions 2022
Actions
Gravity 0 0 3 3 2 8
Lenox 1 0 3 0 1 4
New Market NA NA NA NA 1 1
Sharpsburg 0 0 7 1 2 10
Bedford CSD 1 0 0 2 1 3
Lenox CSD 1 0 3 0 2 5
Grand Total 11 1 49 13 17 79
* Count includes actions implemented annually
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effort for public
education about
hazards. Continue to
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All Hazards High 1 Completed
publish articles in
local newspapers to
provide public
Taylor education.
County Maintain and
publicize list of public
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Wildland Fire with SIRWA to get
funding to replace
water lines with
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Backup jurisdiction
files and records –
store in alternative
All Hazards locations and vaults. Medium 2 Completed
Back up files and
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store in an alternate
Clearfield location.
Reevaluate fire
suppression needs
and find solutions,
acquire chemicals.
Completed.
Evaluate fire
Received
suppression needs
FEMA grant
Grass/ and acquire
High 1 and
Wildland Fire additional training,
endowment
additional
grants to
equipment, and
fund this.
additional fire
suppression
chemicals to ensure
effectiveness.
Winter Storm, Retrofit and harden
Tornado/Windstorm, existing overhead Completed
Lenox Medium 2,4
Thunderstorm/Lightning/Hail, utility lines. Identify in 2021
Infrastructure Failure lines to retrofit, apply
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Prioritization shall include a special emphasis on the extent to which benefits are maximized according
to a cost benefits review of the proposed projects and their associated costs.
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Jurisdictional representatives worked with others in their community to finalize the actions to be
submitted to the updated mitigation strategy. Throughout the discussion of the types of projects that the
committee would include in the mitigation plan, emphasis was placed on the importance of a benefit-cost
analysis in determining project priority. The Disaster Mitigation Act regulations state that benefit-cost
review is the primary method by which mitigation projects should be prioritized. Recognizing the federal
regulatory requirement to prioritize by benefit-cost, and the need for any publicly funded project to be
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cost-effective, the HMPC decided to pursue implementation according to when and where damage
occurs, available funding, political will, jurisdictional priority, and priorities identified in the Iowa State
Hazard Mitigation Plan. Due to many variables that must be examined during project development, the
benefit/cost review at the planning stage, primarily consisted of a qualitative analysis. For each action, the
jurisdictions included a narrative describing the types of benefits that could be realized with
implementation of the action. Where possible, the cost was estimated as closely as possible with further
refinement to occur as project development occurs. Cost-effectiveness will be considered in additional
detail if/when seeking FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding or other grant funding for
eligible projects identified in this plan. At that time, additional information will be researched to provide
for a quantitative benefit-cost analysis.
4.3.1 Continued Compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Given the flood hazard and risk in the planning area and recognizing the importance of the NFIP in
mitigating flood losses, an emphasis is placed on continued compliance with the NFIP by and all NFIP
participating jurisdictions in Taylor County including Bedford, Blockton, and Conway. As NFIP participants,
these communities have and will continue to make every effort to remain in good standing with NFIP. This
includes continuing to comply with the NFIP’s standards for updating and adopting floodplain maps and
maintaining and updating the floodplain zoning ordinance. One aspect of continued compliance since
2016 is the adoption of new NFIP maps that were adopted effective April 5, 2017. There are several other
action items identified in Table 4-3 that address specifics related to NFIP continued compliance. Taylor
County, Gravity and Lenox do not participate in the NFIP but have mapped special flood hazard areas and
are sanctioned in the NFIP. Sanction designation means that residents that have a federally backed
mortgage cannot get access to flood insurance. Taylor County is considering participation in the National
Flood Insurance Program, refer to Action TC-3 in Table 4-3 for more details. Due to the fact that the cities
of Gravity and Lenox have minimal flood risk and are not facing development pressures in flood hazard
areas, the cities are not actively pursuing participating in the NFIP at this time. Other details related to
NFIP participation are noted in Chapter 2 under the community capabilities section (Table 2-34) and the
flood vulnerability discussion in Chapter 3.
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Action IDs are in numerical order based on the jurisdiction proposing the action, with continued actions
numbered lowest and new actions assigned the next sequential Action ID. The mitigation action plan
includes description on how each action will be implemented and administered by the local jurisdiction.
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Many of these mitigation actions are intended to reduce impacts to existing development. Those that
protect future development from hazards, as required per the DMA 2000 regulations, are indicated by an
asterisk ‘*’ in the action identification number. These actions include those that promote wise
development and hazard avoidance, such as building code, mapping, and zoning improvements, and
continued enforcement of floodplain development regulations.
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Dam Failure,
Earthquake, Promote NOAA weather radio Less than
Extreme Heat, Flash County EMA, $10,000 Continue In-Progress. The
purchase and use. Purchase radios
Flood, River Public Health, county promotes purchase of
and disburse to residents. This is Local Funds
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Flooding, Severe Fire Depts, NOAA weather radios on an
needed to ensure impending and Public More than 5
TC-1 1 Winter Storm, Cities, High ongoing basis. Currently
hazards are communicated to Health years
Thunderstorm/Ligh Churches approximately 10% of the
residents of the county so that Emergency
tning/Hail, population has NOAA weather
they can take action or seek refuge
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Preparedness radios.
Tornado/ to avoid potential injury or death. Funds
Windstorm
Build and/or replace culverts. $100,000 to
Flash Flood, River Regularly evaluate $500,000
Secondary Continue In-Progress. This is an
Flooding, culverts/abutments for needed More than 5
TC-2 2,4 Roads Local funds, High ongoing task of the Secondary
Infrastructure replacement and/or rip-rap, years
Department FEMA HMA Roads Department.
Failure, Landslide prioritize, and fund as funds are
DR available. grants
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
Grass/Wildland
Fire, HazMat,
Human Disease,
Infrastructure
Failure,
Radiological
Incident,
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
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Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/Hail,
Tornado,
Windstorm
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Community Shelter with Generator
backup within the new County
Extreme Heat, Public Health building. Retrofit the
Flooding, newly acquired County Public $50,000 to
Public Health
Radiological Health building with quick $100,000
Dept., Board
Incident, Severe connects to install a backup
of Health, FEMA HMA
TC-5 1 Winter Storm, generator. This will provide the High 2-3 years New
Board of Grants, Local
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Thunderstorm/Ligh community a secure and safe
Supervisors, Funds, In-
tning/ place to gather in the event of
County EMA Kind, Local
Hail, Tornado, power outage and serve as both a
Windstorm warming and cooling center. This
shelter will serve approximately 50
people.
Construct storm shelters in all
Severe Winter County parks that are ADA $500,000 to
Storm, accessible and in accordance with $1,000,000
Conservation
Thunderstorm/Ligh FEMA storm shelter standards. More than 5
TC-6 1 Dept., County FEMA HMA Medium New
tning/Hail, These shelters will provide a years
EMA Grants, Local
Tornado, location for residents and visitors
Windstorm to take refuge during severe storm Funds
events.
City Of Bedford Mitigation Actions
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
$100,000 to
Demolish abandoned properties, $500,000 Continue -In Progress. Have
structures. Building inspectors Local Funds, demolished 15+ dilapidated
Infrastructure
working with building owners to In- More than 5 structures and currently more
BF-1 1,4 Failure, Hazardous City Council High
address the situation, continue to kind/donated years underway. Continue to utilize
Materials Incident
demolish/remove structures as funds, State of building code/building
funds are available. Iowa, Private inspector.
Non-profit
Conduct study on the illegal use of
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sump pumps. Complete a study to Less than
$10,000 Continue-In Progress. No study
identify illegal sump pump
yet, have made efforts to
Flash Flood, hookups to the wastewater system Local Funds,
BF-2 4 City Council High 3-5 years increase public awareness on
Infrastructure and then develop correctional
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In- illegal use of sump pumps and
actions to ensure pumps are Kind/donated storm drainage.
removed from the wastewater funds
system.
Maintain city streets and highways. $100,000 to Continue In-Progress. Have
Infrastructure
Continue to plan for $500,000 complete two major street
Failure, More than 5
BF-3 1,2 repairs/maintenance as well as City Council High replacements as well as multiple
Transportation Local funds, years
complete replacements when resurfacing projects since 2016
Incident State of Iowa,
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Drought, Human Upgrade, replace, and expand Over Continue In-Progress. Currently
Disease, water and sewer lines. Continue to $1,000,000 replacing 70% of water mains.
More than 5
BF-4 2 Infrastructure replace/extend lines as financing City Council Local Funds, High Have been and will continue to
years
Failure, Flash Flood, will allow. Re-assess periodically CDBG, SRF, reline sewer mains, will replace
River Flooding, with long-range goal-setting. USDA, those in very poor condition.
$100,000 to
Build and/or replace culverts. $500,000
Continue In-Progress. Have
Replace existing culverts or FEMA HMA More than 5 been installing/replacing in
BF-5 4 Flash Flood construct new culverts in City Council grants, Local Medium
years conjunction w/street
conjunction with street Funds, In-kind improvement projects.
improvement projects. funds, State of
Iowa funds
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
$100,000 to
Construct storm water drainage $500,000 Continue In-Progress. Have
(underground, culverts, curb &
FEMA HMA been installing/replacing in
gutter). Complete a study to City Council, More than 5
BF-6 2 Flash Flood grants, Local Medium conjunction w/street
identify needed improvements. City Staff years
Funds, State improvement projects. No study
Seek funding, and then complete
funds, USDA yet.
improvements.
funds
Infrastructure
Failure, River $50,000 to
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Flooding, Flash $100,000
Purchase and install fixed backup
Flood, Severe FEMA HMA
power generators for under- City Council, More than 5
BF-7 2 Winter Storm, grants, Local High Continue In-Progress.
served assets. Purchase and install City Staff years
Thunderstorm/Ligh
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generators at identified locations. Funds, State
tning/Hail, funds, USDA
Tornado/Windstor funds
m
Infrastructure
Failure, Extreme Over
Heat, Severe Redundant systems and looping $1,000,000
City Council, Continue In-Progress. Major
Winter Storm, (water, sewer, electric, gas). FEMA HMA More than 5
BF-8 2 Mid-American High water main replacement project
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Thunderstorm/Ligh Continue to loop lines along with
Energy grants, Local years
underway currently.
tning/Hail, line-replacement projects. Funds, State
Tornado/Windstor of Iowa, USDA
m
Animal/Plant/ Crop
Disease, Cyber
Attack, Dam/Levee, Little or no
Drought, cost
City Council,
Earthquake, Develop a base of trained
City staff, Local Funds,
Extreme Heat, volunteers. Establish a recruitment
County EMA, In-Kind
BF-9 1 Flooding, and training program including High 1 year Continue Not Started
Fire (donated)
Grass/Wildland public information to promote
Department, funds, Private
Fire, HazMat, participation.
EMS Non-profit
Human Disease,
funds
Infrastructure
Failure,
Radiological
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
Incident,
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/Hail,
Tornado,
Windstorm
Full review of policy, procedure,
and codes, (including Floodplain
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Infrastructure
Management Ordinance). To
Failure, River Annual Implementation. Have
continue to keep up to date with City Council, Little or no
Flooding, More than 5 been and will continue to
BF- policies and procedures especially Iowa cost
2 Thunderstorm/Ligh High years--ongoing review/update
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10* during emergencies to provide Codification,
tning/Hail, Local Funds process policies/procedures. Last code
continuity of services to residents. City Attorney
Tornado/Windstor update 2020.
Update Floodplain Management
m
Ordinance when new maps
become effective.
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
Infrastructure
Failure,
Radiological
Incident,
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/Hail,
Tornado,
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Windstorm
Animal/Plant/ Crop
Disease, Cyber
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Attack, Dam/Levee,
Drought,
Earthquake,
Extreme Heat,
Flooding,
Grass/Wildland Assure local plans are in place and Little or no
Fire, HazMat, current. Participate in cost
City Council, Annual Implementation.
Human Disease, development of Local Emergency
City Staff, Local Funds, Annual Currently updating HM Plan, will
BF-13 2
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Infrastructure Operations Plans and ensure High
EMA, Fire In-kind Implementation continue to review and update
Failure, Hazard Mitigation Plan is reviewed
Department (donated) all EM operations as needed.
Radiological annually and updated every 5
Incident, years. funds
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/Hail,
Tornado,
Windstorm
$100,000 to Continue In-Progress. Have
Repair structurally weak homes;
$500,000 utilized CDBG grant to
Infrastructure weatherization. Continue to utilize More than 5
Failure, Tornado/ Local Funds, rehabilitate multiple homes
BF-14 4 grants and provide in-kind funding City Council High years--ongoing
In- since last Plan implementation.
Windstorm to rehab existing housing and process
kind/donated Beginning new rehab grant
keep it viable.
funds, State of program 2021.
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
Iowa, Other
Federal, CDBG
Less than
Promote the construction of $10,000
Tornado/Windstor reinforced, in-residence tornado
m, safe rooms. Provide public City Council, Local Funds,
BF-15 1 Thunderstorm/Ligh education on construction of in- City Staff, In-kind Medium 2-3 years Continue Not Started
tning/ residence tornado safe rooms EMA (donated)
through mailings, social media, funds, Private
Hail
Non-Profit
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information to local contractors.
Funds
Dam/Levee,
Drought,
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Earthquake,
Extreme Heat,
Implementation of mass
Flooding,
notification system for residents.
Grass/Wildland
There is a need for a simple,
Fire, HazMat,
effective, and fast method of Little or no
Human Disease, City Clerk/City
notifying area residents of cost
BF-16 1 Infrastructure Hall, County Medium 1 year New
emergency situations. Examples:
Failure, EMA Local funds
Winter Storms, Flood incidents,
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Radiological
Infrastructure failure (water main
Incident, Winter
break, natural gas interruptions,
Storm, Terrorism,
phone lines out), etc.)
Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/Hail,
Tornado,
Windstorm
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
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Disease, Cyber
Attack, Dam/Levee,
Drought,
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Earthquake,
Extreme Heat,
Flooding,
Grass/Wildland Little or no Annual Implementation. Some
Fire, HazMat, Develop continuity of operations cost work has been done on written
Human Disease, & succession plans for jurisdiction. Local funds, instructions for the work of the
City Council, Annual
BL-4 2 Infrastructure Have written instructions for vital In-kind Low city and more is planned.
staff Implementation
Failure, procedures to aid in continuity of (donated) Instructions need to be
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Radiological operations. funds, state continually reviewed and
Incident, funds updated.
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/
Hail, Tornado,
Windstorm
Animal/Plant/ Crop
Disease, Cyber Train firefighters, EMTs, and other $1,000/yr. Continue – In Progress. Blockton
Attacks, first responders. Provide more on- City Council, Ambulance is now a satellite of
site training opportunities, and Fire Chief, Local Funds, Annual Taylor County Ambulance
Dam/Levee,
BL-5 1 FEMA AFG Medium
Drought, encourage attendance at off-site Ambulance Implementation Service. There is a need to
training, become a satellite of Director grants, State recruit more First Responders
Earthquake,
Taylor County Ambulance. funds and EMTS.
Extreme Heat,
Flooding,
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
Grass/Wildland
Fire, HazMat,
Human Disease,
Infrastructure
Failure,
Radiological
Incident,
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
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Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/
Hail, Tornado,
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Windstorm
$1,000/yr.
Wildland/ Remove dead vegetation. City Council, Local Funds, Annual Implementation. Sickle
Annual
BL-6 2 Purchase a sickle bar mower for Maintenance In-kind Medium bar mower has been purchased.
Grass Fire Implementation
roadside maintenance. Staff (donated) Requires ongoing effort.
funds,
Animal/Plant/ Crop
DR
Disease,
Dam/Levee,
Drought,
Earthquake,
Extreme Heat, $5,000
City Council,
Flooding, Ensure adequate communication Continue – In Progress. Several
Fire Local Funds,
Grass/Wildland between dispatch and responders. communication upgrades and
Department In-kind Annual
BL-7 1 Fire, HazMat, Provide a system that High repairs have been done, but
and EMS, (donated) Implementation
Human Disease, automatically notifies responders there are still issues with
County Sheriff funds, State
Infrastructure through their personal cell phones. communication.
/ Dispatch funds
Failure,
Radiological
Incident,
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/
Hail, Tornado,
Windstorm
Abandoned Structure Abatement.
There are a number of abandoned
properties in Blockton with
structures including houses and
outbuildings that are dangerous Mayor’s
T
and unsafe due to dilapidation Office, County
Grass/Wildland and deterioration along with Board of $10,000 to
BL-8 1 Fire, Human dense growth of vegetation. Supervisors, $50,000 Low 3-5 yrs New
Disease Increasing the vulernabliity to City Local funds
AF
grassland fires. These properties Maintenance
attract destructive wild animals Department
and pose a danger to any person
or child who might try to enter. It
would also improve the
attractiveness of the town.
Nuisance Property Abatement.
There are a number of properties
DR
in Blockton with that are poorly
maintained including the dense
Animal/Plant/ growth of vegetation and
Mayor’s
abandoned vehicles and other
Crop Disease, Office, County Less than
junk increasing the risk to
Grass/Wildland Treasurers $10,000
BL-9 1 grass/wildland fires. The City is in Medium 2-3 years New
Fire, Hazardous Office, City
the process of updating relevant Local funds
Materials Incident, Maintenance
Ordinances. Enforcement is
Human Disease Department
another obstacle. Blockton has
limited manpower to do the actual
abatement, and limited resources
for pursuing fines or other
methods of ensuring compliance.
City of Clearfield Mitigation Actions
Estimated
Responsible
Hazard(s) Costs/
ID Goal(s) Action Description Agency/Part Priority Timeline Status/ Implementation Notes
Mitigated Possible
ners
Funding
Animal/Plant/ Crop
Disease, Cyber
Attacks,
Dam/Levee,
Drought,
Earthquake,
Extreme Heat,
Flooding,
Grass/Wildland Enhance or formalize effort for 10,000 to
Fire, HazMat, public education about hazards. $50,000 Annual Implementation. We
T
Human Disease, Continue to utilize message board Local Funds, Annual continue to utilize message
CL-1 1 City Council High
Infrastructure to inform the public. Do mailing In-Kind Implementation board and do mailings for
Failure, on gas leaks and promote utility (donated) natural gas safety.
AF
Radiological safety. funds
Incident,
Transportation
Incident, Winter
Storm, Terrorism,
Thunderstorm/Ligh
tning/Hail,
Tornado,
DR
Windstorm
$10,000 to
Grass/Wildland Demolish abandoned properties, $50,000
Fire, Infrastructure structures. Work with property
Housing Local Funds, Continue In-progress.
Failure, Human owners to clean properties up or More than 5
CL-2 4 Development In-Kind Medium Abatements are an ongoing
Disease, Tornado/ demolish unsafe buildings. years
Committee (donated process.
Acquire/demolish properties that
Windstorm owners do not want to deal with. Funds) State/
Federal grants
Construct community safe rooms $10,000 to
in or near existing and future $50,000 Continue Not Started. Sold
critical assets and parks. There are City Council, school building where we
Tornado/ Fire FEMA HMA intended to make a storm
very few basements / tornado
CL-3 1 grant, Local Medium 3-5 years