South Central Connecticut Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey

1. Natural Hazards and Community Vulnerabilities

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) and its municipalities are working together to prepare an update to the Multi-jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan. The purpose of this plan is to identify and assess the Region’s natural hazard risks (such as flooding, winter storms, and hurricanes) and determine how to best minimize or manage those risks. Upon completion, this plan will be presented to the local governing bodies of participating jurisdictions for adoption and then submitted to the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review and approval.

This survey provides an opportunity for you to share your opinions and participate in the mitigation planning process. The information you provide will help us better understand your hazard concerns and can lead to mitigation activities that should help lessen the impacts of future disasters. Participation in this survey is voluntary and none of the information you provide will be attributed to you directly.

If you have any questions regarding this survey or would like to learn about more ways you can participate in the development of our Hazard Mitigation Plan, please contact Rebecca Andreucci at (203) 466-8601 or by e-mail at randreucci@scrcog.org.

Para la encuesta en Español: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCRCOG2023espanol

Question Title

* 1. How concerned are you about the possibility of your home or business being impacted by a disaster from the following hazards?

	Very Concerned	Somewhat Concerned	Not Concerned
Severe Winter Storm/Nor'easter	Severe Winter Storm/Nor'easter Very Concerned	Severe Winter Storm/Nor'easter Somewhat Concerned	Severe Winter Storm/Nor'easter Not Concerned
Hurricane/Tropical Storm	Hurricane/Tropical Storm Very Concerned	Hurricane/Tropical Storm Somewhat Concerned	Hurricane/Tropical Storm Not Concerned
Invasive Species	Invasive Species Very Concerned	Invasive Species Somewhat Concerned	Invasive Species Not Concerned
Coastal Flood	Coastal Flood Very Concerned	Coastal Flood Somewhat Concerned	Coastal Flood Not Concerned
Riverine Flood	Riverine Flood Very Concerned	Riverine Flood Somewhat Concerned	Riverine Flood Not Concerned
Tornado	Tornado Very Concerned	Tornado Somewhat Concerned	Tornado Not Concerned
Coastal Erosion	Coastal Erosion Very Concerned	Coastal Erosion Somewhat Concerned	Coastal Erosion Not Concerned
Sea Level Rise	Sea Level Rise Very Concerned	Sea Level Rise Somewhat Concerned	Sea Level Rise Not Concerned
Extreme Temperatures	Extreme Temperatures Very Concerned	Extreme Temperatures Somewhat Concerned	Extreme Temperatures Not Concerned
Severe Thunderstorm	Severe Thunderstorm Very Concerned	Severe Thunderstorm Somewhat Concerned	Severe Thunderstorm Not Concerned
Urban Flood	Urban Flood Very Concerned	Urban Flood Somewhat Concerned	Urban Flood Not Concerned
Wildfire	Wildfire Very Concerned	Wildfire Somewhat Concerned	Wildfire Not Concerned
Dam Failure	Dam Failure Very Concerned	Dam Failure Somewhat Concerned	Dam Failure Not Concerned
Drought	Drought Very Concerned	Drought Somewhat Concerned	Drought Not Concerned
Earthquake	Earthquake Very Concerned	Earthquake Somewhat Concerned	Earthquake Not Concerned

Question Title

* 2. On a scale of 1-5, in the last ten years, how would you rate changes in flood conditions due to high intensity rainfall events in your community?

1-Extreme Increase

2-Moderate Increase

3-Minor

4-Negligible

5-Unsure

Question Title

* 3. What factors do you think contribute the most to increases in flooding from high intensity rain events?

Soil type/Geology

Land Cover/Vegetation

Distance from Riverbank

Increased Development

Proximity to Drainage

Topography/Curvature of Slope

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. What assets do you believe are at most risk to flooding from increased rainfall intensity (e.g. flash, riverine, or drainage flooding)?

Residences and Businesses

Roads and Bridges

Other infrastructure

City/Town Owned Buildings

Environment

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* 5. Are there any specific areas of your community vulnerable to the natural hazards above? If so, please list them by location. Please use street intersections or landmarks to describe locations.

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* 6. Overall, how would you rank your municipal storm water systems' ability to hand current and future storm events?

Very Inadequate

Very Adequately

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

* 7. How important are the following statements to you as they relate to natural hazard impacts?

	Very Important	Neutral	Not Very Important
Protect private property	Protect private property Very Important	Protect private property Neutral	Protect private property Not Very Important
Protect critical facilities (i.e. transportation networks, hospitals, fire stations)	Protect critical facilities (i.e. transportation networks, hospitals, fire stations) Very Important	Protect critical facilities (i.e. transportation networks, hospitals, fire stations) Neutral	Protect critical facilities (i.e. transportation networks, hospitals, fire stations) Not Very Important
Prevent development in high hazard areas	Prevent development in high hazard areas Very Important	Prevent development in high hazard areas Neutral	Prevent development in high hazard areas Not Very Important
Enhance the function of natural features (i.e. wetlands)	Enhance the function of natural features (i.e. wetlands) Very Important	Enhance the function of natural features (i.e. wetlands) Neutral	Enhance the function of natural features (i.e. wetlands) Not Very Important
Protect historical and cultural landmarks	Protect historical and cultural landmarks Very Important	Protect historical and cultural landmarks Neutral	Protect historical and cultural landmarks Not Very Important
Protect and reduce damage to utilities	Protect and reduce damage to utilities Very Important	Protect and reduce damage to utilities Neutral	Protect and reduce damage to utilities Not Very Important
Strengthen emergency services	Strengthen emergency services Very Important	Strengthen emergency services Neutral	Strengthen emergency services Not Very Important
Promote cooperation between public agencies, citizens, non-profit groups and businesses.	Promote cooperation between public agencies, citizens, non-profit groups and businesses. Very Important	Promote cooperation between public agencies, citizens, non-profit groups and businesses. Neutral	Promote cooperation between public agencies, citizens, non-profit groups and businesses. Not Very Important

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* 8. Please check the box that best represents your opinion of the following strategies to reduce the risk and loss associated with natural disasters.

	Agree	Neutral	Disagree
I support a regulatory approach to reducing risk	I support a regulatory approach to reducing risk Agree	I support a regulatory approach to reducing risk Neutral	I support a regulatory approach to reducing risk Disagree
I support a non-regulatory approach to reducing risk	I support a non-regulatory approach to reducing risk Agree	I support a non-regulatory approach to reducing risk Neutral	I support a non-regulatory approach to reducing risk Disagree
I support policies to prohibit development in areas subject to natural hazards	I support policies to prohibit development in areas subject to natural hazards Agree	I support policies to prohibit development in areas subject to natural hazards Neutral	I support policies to prohibit development in areas subject to natural hazards Disagree
I support the use of tax dollars (federal and/or local) to compensate land owners for not developing in areas subject to natural hazards	I support the use of tax dollars (federal and/or local) to compensate land owners for not developing in areas subject to natural hazards Agree	I support the use of tax dollars (federal and/or local) to compensate land owners for not developing in areas subject to natural hazards Neutral	I support the use of tax dollars (federal and/or local) to compensate land owners for not developing in areas subject to natural hazards Disagree
I support the use of local tax dollars to reduce risks and losses from natural disasters	I support the use of local tax dollars to reduce risks and losses from natural disasters Agree	I support the use of local tax dollars to reduce risks and losses from natural disasters Neutral	I support the use of local tax dollars to reduce risks and losses from natural disasters Disagree
I support protecting historical structures	I support protecting historical structures Agree	I support protecting historical structures Neutral	I support protecting historical structures Disagree
I would be willing to make my home more disaster-resistant	I would be willing to make my home more disaster-resistant Agree	I would be willing to make my home more disaster-resistant Neutral	I would be willing to make my home more disaster-resistant Disagree
I support steps to safeguard the local economy following a disaster event	I support steps to safeguard the local economy following a disaster event Agree	I support steps to safeguard the local economy following a disaster event Neutral	I support steps to safeguard the local economy following a disaster event Disagree
I support improving disaster preparedness of local schools	I support improving disaster preparedness of local schools Agree	I support improving disaster preparedness of local schools Neutral	I support improving disaster preparedness of local schools Disagree
I support the disclosure of natural hazard risks during real estate transactions	I support the disclosure of natural hazard risks during real estate transactions Agree	I support the disclosure of natural hazard risks during real estate transactions Neutral	I support the disclosure of natural hazard risks during real estate transactions Disagree

Question Title

* 9. A number of activities can reduce the risk from natural hazards. In general, these activities fall into one of the following four categories. Please tell us how important you think each one is for your community to consider pursuing.

	Very Important	Neutral	Not Important
Local Plans and Regulations These actions include government authorities, policies, or codes that influence the way land and buildings are developed and built.	Local Plans and Regulations These actions include government authorities, policies, or codes that influence the way land and buildings are developed and built. Very Important	Local Plans and Regulations These actions include government authorities, policies, or codes that influence the way land and buildings are developed and built. Neutral	Local Plans and Regulations These actions include government authorities, policies, or codes that influence the way land and buildings are developed and built. Not Important
Structure and Infrastructure Projects These actions involve modifying existing structures and infrastructure to protect them from a hazard or remove them from a hazard area. This could apply to public or private structures as well as critical facilities and infrastructure. This also includes constructing man-made structures to reduce the impact of hazards.	Structure and Infrastructure Projects These actions involve modifying existing structures and infrastructure to protect them from a hazard or remove them from a hazard area. This could apply to public or private structures as well as critical facilities and infrastructure. This also includes constructing man-made structures to reduce the impact of hazards. Very Important	Structure and Infrastructure Projects These actions involve modifying existing structures and infrastructure to protect them from a hazard or remove them from a hazard area. This could apply to public or private structures as well as critical facilities and infrastructure. This also includes constructing man-made structures to reduce the impact of hazards. Neutral	Structure and Infrastructure Projects These actions involve modifying existing structures and infrastructure to protect them from a hazard or remove them from a hazard area. This could apply to public or private structures as well as critical facilities and infrastructure. This also includes constructing man-made structures to reduce the impact of hazards. Not Important
Natural Systems Protection These are actions that minimize damage and losses and also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. Natural systems protection may include sediment and erosion control, stream corridor restoration, forest management, conservation easements or wetland restoration and preservation.	Natural Systems Protection These are actions that minimize damage and losses and also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. Natural systems protection may include sediment and erosion control, stream corridor restoration, forest management, conservation easements or wetland restoration and preservation. Very Important	Natural Systems Protection These are actions that minimize damage and losses and also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. Natural systems protection may include sediment and erosion control, stream corridor restoration, forest management, conservation easements or wetland restoration and preservation. Neutral	Natural Systems Protection These are actions that minimize damage and losses and also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. Natural systems protection may include sediment and erosion control, stream corridor restoration, forest management, conservation easements or wetland restoration and preservation. Not Important
Education and Awareness Activities These are actions to inform and educate citizens, elected officials, and property owners about hazards and potential ways to mitigate them.	Education and Awareness Activities These are actions to inform and educate citizens, elected officials, and property owners about hazards and potential ways to mitigate them. Very Important	Education and Awareness Activities These are actions to inform and educate citizens, elected officials, and property owners about hazards and potential ways to mitigate them. Neutral	Education and Awareness Activities These are actions to inform and educate citizens, elected officials, and property owners about hazards and potential ways to mitigate them. Not Important

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* 10. On a scale of 1-4, how concerned are residents in your community with the impacts of climate change?

1-Very Concerned

2-Somewhat Concerned

3-Minimally Concerned

4-Not Concerned

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* 11. In your opinion, what are some steps that your local government could take to reduce or eliminate the risk of natural hazard damages in your community? Please choose all that apply.

Provide outreach and education to residents and businesses to help them understand risks and be better prepared.

Provide technical assistance to residents and businesses to help them reduce losses from hazards and disasters.

Conduct projects in the community, such as drainage and flood control projects, to mitigate for hazards and minimize impacts from disasters.

Make it easier for residents and businesses to take their own actions to mitigate risk and become more resilient to disasters.

Improve warning and response systems to improve disaster management.

Enact municipal regulations, codes, and ordinances - such as zoning regulations and building codes - designed to protect people from natural hazards and disasters.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. Please list what you believe are the most effective ways to educate the public on changing hazard conditions?

25% of survey complete.