Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan

New Shoreham, Be Prepared: for Flooding and other Natural Disasters.

tonshaz






Damage to Corn Neck Road from Superstorm Sandy (2012) 

 

Image Credit: 2017 Corn Neck Road Transportation Resiliency Planning Study







2025 Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan (HM&FMP)

While there are many aspects of coastal life in New Shoreham to celebrate, it does leave us vulnerable to several natural hazards. More frequent and intense rainfall is becoming the norm resulting in increased property and street flooding. Wind and storm surge damage from hurricanes is also problematic, and we are on the front-lines for sea level rise.  

The Town of New Shoreham is working hard to be prepared and to that end recently developed a 2025 Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan (HM&FMP) to strengthen our resilience to a number of natural hazards, including flooding and hurricanes. The HM&FMP updates and replaces the Town’s 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan and expands the focus on flood management. The Project was facilitated by Kim Jacobs, Civil Engineer & Resilience Planning Consultant, under the guidance of an Advisory Committee comprised of Town staff, residents, and other stakeholders. Opportunities for community involvement were provided throughout the development process and the Advisory Committee is appreciative of the community’s input which helped to shape  and improve the Plan.

 

 HM&FMP Advisory Committee Members/Designees

New Shoreham Town Staff

(and those boards having regulatory authority)

Members of the Public/Stakeholders

Advisory Committee Co-Chair Alison Ring, AICP: Town Planner/GIS Manager 

Chris Crawford: Chamber of Commerce Director

Sharon Tavilla: Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors-Secretary

Advisory Committee Co-Chair Shirlyne Gobern: Administrative Assistant 

Amy Lewis Land: Interim Town Manager

Maryanne Crawford: Former Town Manager

Judy Gray: Coastal Resilience Committee Chair

 

** Special thanks to the entire Coastal Resilience Committee, in particular Socha Cohen, Mary Anderson, and Nigel Grindley for their engagement throughout the development process

John Breunig: Superintendent Block Island Water Company 

Dylan Chase: Superintendent Water Pollution Control Facility

Corrie Heinz: Block Island Land Trust/Coastal Resilience Committee/Local Business Owner

Kate McConville: Harbormaster

Chris Hobe: Fire Chief/Local Business Owner

Michael Shea: Director of Public Works 

Tom Risom: Facilities Manager

Glennie LeBaron: The Nature Conservancy BI Coastal Resilience Coordinator   

Kimberley Gaffett: The Nature Conservancy BI Program

William McCombe: Town Councilor/NS Emergency Management Task Force Co-Director/Security Director for Interstate Navigation

Jeffery Wright: BI Utility District President/NS Emergency Management Task Force Member 
Tracy Fredericks: BI Utility District Office Manager/Volunteer Rescue Member

Committee Facilitator, Technical Advisor, and Author of the HM&FMP

Kim Jacobs, Civil Engineer & Resilience Planning Consultant

 

FINAL PLAN REVIEW

The following PLAN has been reviewed and approved by FEMA.



What is Hazard Mitigation?

FEMA defines hazard mitigation as, “any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.” Good planning before, during, and after disasters can protect our health, our daily ways of life, and promote equity in our community.

 

What is Flood Management?

FEMA defines flood (floodplain) management as “a community-based effort to prevent or reduce the risk of flooding, resulting in a more resilient community.” As inland flooding, coastal flooding, and coastal erosion is a problem in New Shoreham, it is important to identify measures that will help alleviate the impacts of flooding.

  

Why is a HM&FMP Important?

The Town of New Shoreham understands that a well-developed Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan is an important planning tool that can:

  • identify goals to prepare and adapt to changing hazards and vulnerabilities
  • engage community and regional stakeholders and link local and regional planning efforts
  • educate community members to increase personal safety and resiliency
  • improve opportunities for mitigation funding

 

While we can’t prevent natural hazard events, such as hurricanes and nor’easters, pre-disaster planning and investments in preventative measures can reduce the impact of these events and improve post-disaster recovery.


Want to Learn More?

Following are some links that will provide additional information related to the HM&FMP Project.