Erie County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Community Survey The Erie County Emergency Management Agency is currently leading a project to update the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. This mitigation plan serves as a roadmap to reducing the impacts of hazards on Erie County. This questionnaire is designed to help the team designated to lead this project understand the concerns that the residents of Erie County have about the hazards which their communities face. Your responses will help guide the development of this important plan. Please note survey responses are kept confidential. Participation in this survey is voluntary and your completed questionnaire indicates your willingness to participate in the survey. Thank you for taking the time to help your community with the preparation of our mitigation plan.If you have any questions regarding this survey, please contact JoAnne Huie at JoAnneH@AllClearEMG.com.Helpful DefinitionsCritical Facilities - Any building or structure that provides services to people that are important during an emergency. Examples include fire stations, hospitals and 9-1-1 dispatch centers. Other critical facilities can include buildings that house vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, or buildings or structures that house hazardous materials that can create additional risks if that building is damaged during a natural disaster. Hazardous Materials - Any solid, liquid, or gas that has the potential to cause harm to people, animals, property or the environment. Examples include fertilizers, gasoline, or other chemicals involved in manufacturing. Invasive Species - Any kind of living organism (including plants, insects, animals, etc.) that is not native to where it is found. They can cause damage to the environment or human health. Examples include Emerald Ash Borer, zebra mussels, and Gypsy Moths.Natural Disaster - A major event caused by natural processes of the Earth. These can cause loss of life and property damage. Some result in economic damage for a long time after the event. Examples include flooding, landslides, tornadoes, and wildfires.Natural Hazard - Any risk to people and property caused by a natural process of the earth that has the potential to be dangerous. Natural disasters are caused by natural hazards, such as tornadoes and floods. Mitigation - Actions done to reduce or eliminate a risk to people and property. Mitigation helps reduce damage caused by natural hazards. Examples include not building in areas that have been known to flood frequently or putting salt or sand on roadways in the winter to reduce traffic accidents caused by ice.Resistant - The ability to withstand harmful effects of something, such as natural disasters. One type of resistant building is a tornado shelter that is specifically built to protect people from the effects of tornadoes. Risk - Risk or threat is the possibility of something bad happening. The risk of a winter storm in Ohio is greater than the risk of a hurricane.Vulnerable Populations - Groups of people who are at a higher risk than the overall population to experience more severe effects from natural disasters. Examples include residents of a nursing home, young children, and people with limited resources. Question Title * 1. In which community do you live? Bay View Village Berlin Township Berlin Heights Village Castalia Village Florence Township Groton Township Huron Township Huron City Kelleys Island Village Margaretta Township Milan Township Milan Village (Erie County Portion Only) Oxford Township Perkins Township Sandusky City Vermilion City (Erie County Portion Only) Vermilion Township Other (please specify) Question Title * 2. Do you own or rent your home? Own Rent Other (please specify) Question Title * 3. Do you have flood insurance? Yes, purchased voluntarily Yes, required by insurer or mortgage holder Yes, unsure why purchased originally No, too expensive No, not necessary No, deductible is too high No, never considered it Other (please specify) Question Title * 4. Would you be willing to make your home more resistant to disasters? I would be willing to spend a lot of time and/or money I would be willing to spend a moderate amount of time and/or money I would be willing to spend a little or no time and/or money I would be interested in seeking grant funding (example: Safe Room Rebate Program) to make my home more resistant to disasters Not sure No Question Title * 5. What is the most effective way for you to receive information about how to make your home and neighborhood more resistant to hazards? Newspaper Television Radio Internet Social media Mail Public workshops/meetings School meetings Other (please specify) Question Title * 6. How informed do you feel about the natural hazard risks (earthquake, tornado, winter storm, etc.) facing Erie County? Very Informed Somewhat Informed I have little to no knowledge about the hazards in Erie County Question Title * 7. Please check the box that indicates how concerned you are about the following hazards affecting your community. Extremely Concerned Very Concerned Concerned Somewhat Concerned No Concerned Drought Drought Extremely Concerned Drought Very Concerned Drought Concerned Drought Somewhat Concerned Drought No Concerned Earthquake Earthquake Extremely Concerned Earthquake Very Concerned Earthquake Concerned Earthquake Somewhat Concerned Earthquake No Concerned Flooding Flooding Extremely Concerned Flooding Very Concerned Flooding Concerned Flooding Somewhat Concerned Flooding No Concerned Invasive Species (Gypsy Moths, Emerald Ash Borer, etc.) Invasive Species (Gypsy Moths, Emerald Ash Borer, etc.) Extremely Concerned Invasive Species (Gypsy Moths, Emerald Ash Borer, etc.) Very Concerned Invasive Species (Gypsy Moths, Emerald Ash Borer, etc.) Concerned Invasive Species (Gypsy Moths, Emerald Ash Borer, etc.) Somewhat Concerned Invasive Species (Gypsy Moths, Emerald Ash Borer, etc.) No Concerned Severe Summer Storm Severe Summer Storm Extremely Concerned Severe Summer Storm Very Concerned Severe Summer Storm Concerned Severe Summer Storm Somewhat Concerned Severe Summer Storm No Concerned Severe Winter Storm Severe Winter Storm Extremely Concerned Severe Winter Storm Very Concerned Severe Winter Storm Concerned Severe Winter Storm Somewhat Concerned Severe Winter Storm No Concerned Tornado Tornado Extremely Concerned Tornado Very Concerned Tornado Concerned Tornado Somewhat Concerned Tornado No Concerned Wildfire Wildfire Extremely Concerned Wildfire Very Concerned Wildfire Concerned Wildfire Somewhat Concerned Wildfire No Concerned Question Title * 8. Are there natural hazards you are concerned about that are not listed above? If so, please list them below. Question Title * 9. What types of hazards have you personally experienced in Erie County? (example: flooding at my home, tornado at my place of work, winter storms, etc.) Question Title * 10. Are there places in your community that are impacted, or could be impacted, by specific hazards? (e.g. Main Street floods after heavy rain.) If so, please describe the hazard and the specific location. Question Title * 11. In your opinion, what are some actions your local government could take to reduce the risk of future hazard damages to your community? Questions 12-17 describe different methods that can be used to reduce the risk that hazards pose to lives and property. Please share how important you think each of these methods are in reducing risk in Erie County. Question Title * 12. Prevention Strategies - These are actions taken to keep a problem from getting worse. An example of a prevention strategy are laws and ordinances that prevent construction of new buildings in floodplains. Very important Somewhat important Not important Question Title * 13. Property Protection Strategies - These are actions taken to lessen the risk of damage to property.Examples of property protection strategies include removing homes from the floodplain and elevating homes to stay above water levels during flooding. Very important Somewhat important Not important Question Title * 14. Public Education and Awareness Strategies - These are actions taken to inform the public about hazardous areas and the actions necessary to avoid potential injury or damage.Examples of public education and awareness strategies include outreach programs, notices to residents and property owners, and public service announcements, such as the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" campaign. Very important Somewhat important Not important Question Title * 15. Natural Resource Protection Strategies - These are actions intended to protect the environment.Examples of natural resource protection strategies include placing limits on hunting and fishing, and requiring boaters to completely clean off the hull of their boats before moving them from one body of water to another. Very important Somewhat important Not important Question Title * 16. Critical Facility Protection - These are actions taken to protect critical facilities which are important to response efforts. An example of critical facility protection strategy is placing backup generators in hospitals to ensure there is electrical power even in the event of a widespread power outage. Very important Somewhat important Not important Question Title * 17. Structural Project Strategies - These are actions which directly protect people and property through the construction of manmade structures.Examples of structural project strategies include adding additional storm sewers or elevating roadways to reduce flooding. Very important Somewhat important Not important Question Title * 18. If you are interested in learning more about emergency preparedness and hazard mitigation, how do you want to receive this information? Check all that may apply. Classroom trainings Direct mailing Information booth (at the County fair, or other public event) Newspaper articles Online articles Online videos Social media posts Question Title * 19. How are you currently receiving emergency information in Erie County or your jurisdiction? Check all that may apply. Erie County Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) City of Vermilion Emergency Alerts National Weather Service Weather Alert Radio I am not receiving any emergency information in Erie County or my jurisdiction. Other (please specify) Question Title * 20. Do you have any other comments, concerns or suggestions about hazard mitigation planning in your community? Done