TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH Local Multi

Transcription

Draft Plan September 19, 2011**
TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH
Local Multi-Hazard Disaster Mitigation Plan
Middleborough Town Hall
Nickerson Avenue
Middleborough, MA 02346
Table of Contents
Table of Contents ...........................................................................................................................................2
Chapter One: Introduction and Planning Process .........................................................................................3
Development of the First Mitigation Plan..................................................................................................3
2011 Plan Update Process and Public Involvement...................................................................................4
Review of Existing Reports and Plans .......................................................................................................4
Chapter Two: Profile of the Community .......................................................................................................6
Geography, Geology, Topography, and Climate .......................................................................................6
Political Structure.......................................................................................................................................7
Population Characteristics..........................................................................................................................7
Transportation Network ...........................................................................................................................11
Land Use: Housing, Commerce, Industry and Agriculture......................................................................15
Economic Development ...........................................................................................................................19
Utilities.....................................................................................................................................................20
Chapter 2 Conclusions .............................................................................................................................22
Chapter Three: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.......................................................................23
Flood Related Hazards: ............................................................................................................................23
Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and High Wind Events...............................................................................31
Tornadoes.................................................................................................................................................34
Nor’easters, Winter Storms, and Ice ........................................................................................................36
Wildfire ....................................................................................................................................................37
Drought ....................................................................................................................................................38
Geologic Hazards .....................................................................................................................................38
Assessing Vulnerability ...........................................................................................................................39
Chapter Four: Existing and Ongoing Mitigation Activities.........................................................................41
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participation.........................................................................41
Current Mitigation Actions ......................................................................................................................41
Chapter Five: Mitigation Actions Town of Middleborough ........................................................................45
Proposed Mitigation Actions and Implementation ..................................................................................45
Chapter 6: Maintenance and Implementation ..............................................................................................59
Existing Reports and Documents:................................................................................................................60
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Middleborough Hazard Mitigation Plan
Draft 9/19/11
Chapter One: Introduction and Planning Process
Middleborough is a predominantly rural community with a classic New England downtown as well as a
long history of a regional industrial center since colonial times. The landscape features cranberry bogs,
natural wooded areas, and low-density residences in the outlying areas; higher density residential uses and
businesses are located toward the center, and highway commercial uses as well as large industrial parks
are located on the arterial roadways. The New England weather means natural hazards are a fact of life in
Middleborough with each season presenting its own challenge -- heavy spring rains, summer droughts,
early fall hurricanes, or winter snowstorms. The intersection of these natural hazards with the man-made
environment can transform these routine events into natural disasters.
Emergency Management is categorized by four phases of action:
Mitigation: Activities which eliminate or reduce the probability of a disaster occurring;
also, short and long term actions, which lessen the undesirable effects of
unavoidable disasters;
Preparedness: Activities which governments, organizations, and individuals develop
to prepare and pre-place resources and capabilities needed in the event
of a disaster;
Response: The actual provision of emergency resources, assistance and services during a
disaster to prevent loss of lives and property,
Recovery: Activities that seek to restore vital services to the community and to provide
for the basic needs of the public. Recovery also involves long-term activities to
restore the community to its pre-disaster status, and to institute measures against
future
emergencies and disasters.
This is a mitigation plan; it examines the natural hazards facing the Town of Middleborough, assesses the
vulnerability of the area’s residents and businesses, and makes recommendations on ways to mitigate the
negative effects of typical natural hazards. It does not address preparedness, response or recovery, which
are addressed in the Town’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). The mitigation plan
effort has drawn from the local knowledge of a group of officials and residents, and the recommendations
presented are meant to be realistic and effective steps for mitigating natural hazards. Ultimately it is
hoped that these actions will translate into savings – fewer lives lost, less property destroyed, and minimal
disruption to essential services.
Development of the First Mitigation Plan
In April of 2004 the Middleborough Board of Selectmen appointed a local Pre-Disaster Mitigation
Planning Committee and charged them with the development of this plan. A list of the Committee
members is attached. The group included representatives from: the Fire Department, Board of Health,
Department of Public Works, Building Commissioner, Conservation Commission, and Planning Board.
The group held four (4) public meetings to discuss and develop the plan. The Southeastern Regional
Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD) provided mapping and technical assistance.
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2011 Plan Update Process and Public Involvement
The Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) update was prepared by taking the following steps initiated by the
Planning Department in March 2011; initial steps included identifying committee members, disseminating
the 2004 plan and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance documents, reviewing
FEMA requirements, acquiring the original plan maps from the Regional Planning Agency and preparing
an initial update of the 2004 plan including the possibility of converting it into an All-Hazards Plan. The
Fire Chief, who also acts as the town’s Emergency Management Director, the Health Officer and the
Planning Director met with Sarah White of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)
on May 11, 2011 to review the requirements for updating the Town’s HMP and receive answers to
questions that had been developed up to that point in the Town’s HMP update process. The Fire Chief
acquired passwords for the Health Officer and the Planning Director in order for them to directly access
the Town’s electronic Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (eCEMP) document on the State
website. Existing reports and plans were reviewed; field inspections were made to document locations,
sizes and characteristics of known dams; US Census information for the Town was accessed; Building
Department records were reviewed, etc. In December 2010 and March, June, July and September 2011,
the local committee and Local Emergency Management Planning Committee (LEPC) members met to
discuss the need and the schedule for an HMP update as well as the Town’s risks, goals, actions and past
disaster experiences to update and reissue the HMP.
An opportunity for the public to participate in the plan update was provide during the drafting stage and
the approval process. The Draft HMP was sent to various Department heads for review and comment and
presented to the Planning Board at their September 13, 2011 public meeting for comment. On September
, 2011 the Draft HMP was posted on the Town’s website www.middleborough.com and a copy was
provided to the Library, for public review and comment. The Draft HMP was also presented at a Board
of Selectmen’s public meeting on September 2011 which is covered by cable television and residents
were requested to review it as posted on the website and submit comments as well as posting a notices on
the Town Clerk’s bulletin board in the Town Hall Annex at 20 Center Street and the Town Hall at 10
Nickerson Avenue In addition the citizens of Middleboro, the following stakeholders were involved in
the process …. They were involved by…
2011 HMP Committee Membership
Ruth Geoffroy, Planning Director
Jeanne Spalding, Health Officer
Lance Benjamino, Chief - Fire Department
Robert Whalen, Building Commissioner
Patricia Cassady, Conservation Agent
Charles Cristello, Town Manager
Review of Existing Reports and Plans
To fully integrate this planning process into the work of other department and other studies, the HMP
Committee reviewed a number of technical reports, plans and studies. Whenever possible the committee
used the information from existing reports to enhance the mitigation plan. A list of reference materials is
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included at the end of the document.
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Chapter Two: Profile of the Community
Geography, Geology, Topography, and Climate
Geography. The Town of Middleborough is located in southeastern Massachusetts in Plymouth County
and is bordered by Raynham and Taunton on the west, Bridgewater on the north, Halifax and Plympton
on the northeast, Carver on the east, Rochester and Wareham on the south, and Lakeville to the southwest.
Middleborough is 40 miles south of Boston and 30 miles east of Providence, Rhode Island. It has a total
land area of 69.6 square miles of land area and 72.3 square miles including water bodies, making
Middleborough the second largest Town in the Commonwealth with only Plymouth having a greater area
of land. Currently, this is the fastest growing region of New England. Middleborough is located at
Latitude 41° 53’ 20” Longitude 70° 53’ 23” at Barden Hill.
Geology/Topography. Geologists classify the southeastern Massachusetts area as part of the Northeast
Coastal Lowlands/Coastal Plain region. The area is characterized by conditions created over 12,000 years
ago when the massive glaciers covering New England receded. These characteristics include: low hills;
highly porous water bearing deposits of sand and gravel; multiple swamps, lakes, rivers and ponds; and a
high water table. The glaciers left behind glacial till that contains thick deposits of both sand and gravel
cemented together with silts and clay, lying over bedrock and large lake bottom clay deposits particularly
in the northern area of the Town. There are occasionally boulders, known as glacial erratics, of different
rock types that were carried from northern regions and left behind as the glaciers receded. Middleborough
has rolling hills and knobby terrain with elevation changes from 13 feet above mean sea level at the
confluence of the Poqouy Brook with the Taunton River to 191 feet above sea level at Barden Hill.
Approximately half of the town is covered with wetlands and surface water bodies which form an intricate
network protecting and feeding the aquifer that provides drinking water for the town and beyond. The
major waterways include the Nemasket River, which flows south to north through the center of town from
Assawompsett Pond to the Taunton River; it creates the town’s westerly boundary with Lakeville and is
an anadromous herring fishery resource. Fall Brook is a tributary to the Nemasket River and is located
wholly within the town. The Taunton River creates the town’s northerly boundary with Bridgewater; it is
a federally recognized Wild and Scenic River and is also an anadromous herring run. Purchade,
Puddingshear and Poquoy Brooks are located in North Middleborough and discharge to the Taunton
River; Puddingshear Brook contains a population of native brook trout and contains two USGS
Groundwater Monitoring wells located just north of the Clayton Road Bridge crossing Puddingshear
Brook. The Weweantic River is located in South Middleborough and creates the town line between
Middleborough and Carver. There are several major ponds within Middleborough including Woods Pond
and Tispaquin Pond which are wholly within the Town and are both used for recreation; Tispaquin Pond,
categorized as a “great pond” has a Commonwealth of MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife public boat
ramp located off of Eldon Ave. The Assawompsett Pond Complex (APC), consisting of Assawompsett
Pond, Pocksha Pond, Great Quittacus Pond, Little Quittacus Pond and Long Pond are located partly in
Middleborough (Assawompsett, Pocksha and Great Quittacus) and partly in the towns of Lakeville,
Rochester and Freetown. The APC is the largest natural water body in the Commonwealth and has been
dedicated for public water supply use to the cities of New Bedford and Taunton who serve over 200,000
people in 13 communities. New Bedford and Taunton also manage the APC’s water control structures,
including but not limited to the Assawompsett Pond Dam in Middleborough/Lakeville, at the headwaters
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of the Nemasket River. The APC is the anadromous fishery spawning ground for herring running up the
Nemasket River, which is said to be the most prolific herring fishery in the region. The APC as well as
the banks of other rivers, streams and ponds in Middleborough are all rich in archaeological and historic
resources. There are a limited number of residential homes around Assawompsett and Pocksha Ponds,
while Long Pond is surrounded by full time as well as vacation homes. Long Pond is also used
extensively for recreational boating, fishing, swimming, etc. Most of the town is in the Taunton River
Watershed, with the southeast corner alone draining to the Buzzards Bay Watershed through the
Weweantic River; a small section of the town, near the Carver town line, is part of the Plymouth Carver
Aquifer.
Within Middleborough there are 7,472.62 acres of open space including conservation and recreation
lands. This includes the 1,483 acres of water supply lands surrounding Assawompsett, Pocksha and Great
Quittacus Ponds in Middleborough owned by the City of New Bedford and 13 acres owned by the City of
Taunton; the 3,381 acre Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area, owned by the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; and, the 311 acre Weston Memorial Forest, owned by
the Town of Middleborough.
Climate Massachusetts in general has a humid climate with temperatures that average 68° to 72° F in the
summer and 28° to 32° F in the winter. The National Climatic Data Center reports the following normal
temperatures by season in Middleborough:
January
July
26.5° F
71.0° F
The normal annual precipitation is 48.8 inches. The growing season, from the last killing frost in the
spring to the first killing frost in the fall, runs between 180 – 200 days. The area is subject to a variety of
severe weather events: hurricanes, northeasters, thunderstorms, blizzards, tornadoes, and drought. All of
these are discussed more fully in the next chapter.
Political Structure
The governing body of the Town of Middleborough is a five member Board of Selectmen who also serves
as the Boards of Health, Water Commissioners and Sewer Commissioners; the Board also issues Earth
Removal Permits. The legislative body of the Town is Town Meeting, open to all registered voters. The
Planning Board consists of five elected members and one appointed Associate Member position. The
Board of Selectmen hires a Town Manager pursuant to the Town Charter. The seven member
Conservation Commission is appointed by the Town Manager and confirmed by the Board of Selectmen.
Gas and Electric service is provided to the towns of Middleborough and Lakeville by the Town owned
Middleborough Gas and Electric Department which is overseen by an elected Commission consisting of
five members.
Population Characteristics
The 2010 US Census indicates that Middleborough has a total population of 23,116 in the year 2010.
With a land area of 69.6 square miles the average population density is 332 persons per square mile but
growing rapidly due to new construction. The median age is 41.2years, with 65% of the population in the
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18-64 age group. Twenty percent of the population is made up of children under the age of 16. With a
total of 8,468 households, the average household size is 2.67 persons.
Middleborough has experienced a rapid population increase over the past ten years, and is expected to
continue this growth. The town was the fastest growing in the Southeast Regional Planning and
Economic Development District (SRPEDD) Region between 2000 and 2010 with a 15.92% increase in
population. The figure below indicates census population figures and growth projections prepared by
SRPEDD & the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MADOT).
According to a build-out study conducted by IEP, Inc. for the Town in 1989, if current zoning is
unchanged, and every single buildable lot is developed for residential use, family size remains unchanged,
and no additional infrastructure is provided to currently undevelopable lots, the population of
Middleborough could reach 45,043 at build-out.
New construction permits over the last 10 years have been on the rise due to the availability of large tracts
of developable land, permitting of a large Adult Mobile Home Park known as Oak Point and access to
Boston through the proximity to interstate highways and the MBTA Commuter Rail stations in
Middleborough/Lakeville, Bridgewater and Halifax.
Past Population Trends The long view of Middleborough has been of a community slowly emerging from
its rural roots as a low density, sparsely populated town. The town did not experience the post-war growth
spurt that affected so many other communities in the 40’s and 50’s. Instead, Middleborough experienced a
flatter growth increase that by default allowed the town to retain much of its rural character. However, the
coming decades suggest a new pattern of population growth.
Projected Population Growth Rates Planners use growth rates from the recent past, tweaked by economic
factors to project future growth rates. Consequently we start the discussion of projected rates with the
results from the last few years.
Over the last decade, the town’s population changed, from 19,941 people in 2000 to 23,116 in 2010. This
was a 15.92% increase, or little more than 1.6% annually. In the local region; i.e., the nine towns
surrounding Middleborough, the population grew from 148,937 residents in 2000 to more than 155,323
residents in 2010, an increase of 6,386 or an annual change of .4% per year. Of these abutting towns,
Raynham and Rochester had the highest 10 year growth rates of 14% and 14.2% respectively, while the
City of Taunton lost population with a rate of -0.2%. The entire SRPEDD area saw its aggregate
population increase by 3.2%, with a 2010 population of 616,674.
Even with this seemingly small increase, population growth rates in the entire New England region are
significantly lower than those seen in Southeastern Massachusetts. The Town of Middleborough has
supported this trend by experiencing growth rates that exceed the State of Massachusetts by more than 5
times the average and the Boston metropolitan area-wide growth rates by four and one half times the
average for that area north of Middleborough. Note that regardless of this local and regional rate of
change, the population growth has not kept pace with New England’s economic expansion. Employers are
still finding it hard to fill jobs.
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Forecasts for the next five to ten years are that Middleborough’s population will continue to increase,
adding nearly 947 residents in the next ten years while averaging growth rates of 0.4% annually according
to SRPEDD. The balance of the region is expected to experience average growth rates in the range of
0.3% to 0.6%. The resulting year 2020 forecast population for Middleborough will be 24,063. This
represents an overall increase of people at only 4.1% over the latest numbers from 2010 and a
significantly less projected amount of growth than occurred over the previous decade.
Table 1 – Middleborough’s 2010 Population, Land Area, and Density
Community
Population (1)
Middleborough
23,116
Land Area
(Square Miles) (2)
Population Density
(Persons/Square Mile) (3)
69.6
332
Figure 1: SRPEDD Population projections for Region 1990-2030
800,000
653,000
698,000
2020
2030
700,000
563,130
597,294
616,670
600,000
Population
500,000
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
0
1990
2000
2010
Years
Table 2 - SRPEDD Population Projections by Community 2000-2030
Community
Middleborough
2000
2010
2020
U.S. Census U.S. Census Projection
23,116
19,941
24,063
2030
Projection
25,303
Consistent with national trends Middleborough has seen a steady increase in the absolute number of
residents whom are over 65 years of age. This is a trend that is expected to continue as the “baby9
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boomer” generation ages. The number of residents over the age of 65 has increased by 66% since 2000.
This population generally has a higher incidence of special needs for emergency response-- due to health
afflictions and mobility restrictions—although overall this population is a healthier and more active group
than they were thirty years ago. The Federal Administration on Aging notes the following as reasons the
elderly are more vulnerable to disasters:
•
•
•
•
•
They have difficulty getting assistance due to progressive physical and mental impairments and
other frailties that accompany aging;
They are slower to fill out forms for disaster notification and/or disaster relief assistance;
They are often at higher post-disaster nutritional risk and medication risk;
They are often targeted by fraudulent contractors; and
They may be susceptible to abuse as overall family stress levels increase in the later stages of a
disaster.1
The permitting and construction of the 1150 unit Oak Point adult mobile home park off of Thompson and
Plain Streets in North Middleborough and the 74 unit Edgeway Estates adult mobile home park off of Rte
79 combined with the existing 95 unit Hillcrest Mobile Home Park on East Grove Street has brought a
concentrated population of residents 55 years of age and older. These mobile home parks when complete
will provide 16% of the Town’s total housing units and with approximately 1.5 persons per unit,
according to the Assessors office, a total of 1979 residents.

Other vulnerable populations are youth and the disabled. Youth are vulnerable due to their need
for supervision and guidance in times of emergency—especially groups of children under the care
of a limited amount of adults. This is best assessed at the local level through critical facilities
identification of childcare centers and schools. These facilities are indicated on Middleborough’s
map of critical facilities and include daycare centers and schools.
Special Populations - Working in collaboration with the Greater Attleboro Transit Regional Authority
(GATRA), the Middleborough Council on Aging provides transportation services for elderly and
handicapped residents and the general public. The Council also provides a wide range of recreational
activities and education programs for elders, caregivers and the community. The Leonard E. Simmons
Center, 558 Plymouth Street, serves as a multi-service center offering with beautiful grounds, and
gardens. In 2010, over 1200 visited the center for recreational purposes.
Within the 16-64 age group 697 persons identified themselves as having mobility (going outside the
home) or self care limitation according to the 2000 US Census. 1,470 persons had some work disability.
Amongst persons over 65 years, 600 identified themselves as having mobility or self care limitation.
These are all non-institutionalized persons with disabilities.
The 2000 Census represents the first time that data on the disabled was collected. The Census long form
allowed self-reporting by the respondent on questions that would indicate disabilities of various types:
-sensory disability,
1
-physical disability,
“Disaster Preparedness for Older Americans”, 2002. Business Publishers, Inc.: Silver Spring, MD, p.1.
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-mental disability,
-going outside the home disability
-self-care disability,
-employment disability.
Due to the ability to select more than one category, this translates into a smaller number of residents. The
special circumstances of the disabled population that may affect disaster response include:
the visually-impaired are reluctant to leave familiar surroundings;
those with mental or cognitive impairment may not understand or may become confused;
guide dogs and other assistance animals may become disoriented in a disaster;
proper transport techniques are required to reassure anyone being carried that they will not
be dropped;
o many respiratory illnesses are aggravated by stress;
o medically-dependent individuals may not be able to communicate their needs; and all
temporary shelters must meet accessibility standards
o
o
o
o
Middleborough contains a number of nursing and/or residential homes with residents requiring skilled
nursing or other special need requirements. Those homes include:
Table 3 – Middleborough Nursing and Residential Homes
Golden Living Center-Oakhill
Nemasket Healthcare Center
Fairhaven’s Nursing Home
Neuro-Rehabilitation Center
The Montgomery Home
Serenity Home
123 beds
40 beds
299 Wareham Street
20 beds
314 Marion Road
90 beds
334 Marion Road
28 beds
23 Isaac Street
124 beds
64 South Main Street 7 beds
98 South Main St
24 beds
Conway House
14 East Grove St.
Hannah Shaw Home
76 North Street
Alzheimer’s, Skilled nursing
Assisted living,
Skilled nursing
Respite & hospice care
Alzheimer’s, assisted living
Skilled nursing, brain injuries
Assisted living
Rest Home, assisted living
Homeless shelter for
women/children
Transportation Network
Major Streets and Highways The Town of Middleborough is well served by a number of state and local
highways that provide direct access through the town and to Interstate 495. The principal roadways that
provide access to the town are described below. Descriptions of the roadways include a description of
geometric conditions and adjacent land uses.
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Interstate 495 is a circumferential limited access highway around the Boston metropolitan area.
Depending on location, the highway provides two or three lanes of travel in each direction. Access to I495 is provided via four partial cloverleaf interchanges in Middleborough and a 5th in Wareham. These
on-/off-ramps are at Exit 3-Rte 28/Rock Village, Exit 4-Rte 105/Downtown, Exit 5-Rte 18/
Lakeville/Middleborough and Exit 6-Rte 44. These on-/off-ramps, at exits 3-6, provide direct access to
Route 28, Route 106, Route 18, and Route 44 respectively. Exit 2- Rte 58/Wareham is located
approximately one quarter (¼) mile from the Middleboro town line in Wareham
Route 44 is a state highway that provides an east-west access to Carver, Kingston and Plympton to the
east and Lakeville, Raynham and Taunton to the west. Route 44 provides one lane of travel in each
direction with additional turning lanes provided at major intersections. The posted speed limit on Route
44 varies between 50 miles per hour east of the Middleborough Rotary to the expanded 4 lane median
divided section in Carver where it rises to 65 mph and 25 miles per hour west of the Rotary. Rte 44 east of
the Rotary is a limited access roadway with 4 signalized intersections at Old Center St., Everett St.,
Plymouth St. and Rte 105 and no other curb cuts or developments are allowed by MADOT. Land use
along Route 44 west of the rotary is a mix of commercial uses.
Route 105 is a state highway that provides a north-south access to Lakeville to the south and Plympton
and Halifax to the north. Route 105 provides one lane of travel in each direction with additional turning
lanes provided at major intersections and four travel lanes at the I-495 interchange into Lakeville. Route
105 provides access to the Middleborough/ Lakeville MBTA Commuter Rail Station, located just south of
the on-/off-ramps to I-495. The posted speed limit on Route 105 varies between 45 miles per hour and 25
miles per hour as the road approaches and bisects downtown Middleborough. Land use along Route 105
is a mix of office, retail, agricultural and residential uses. To the north, land use is rural/agricultural and
the road serves as a major connector to Halifax and Plympton.
Route 28 is a state highway that provides a north-south access to Bridgewater to the north and Wareham
to the south. Route 28, the old “Cranberry Highway” provides one lane of travel in each direction and
intersects and combines with Rte 18 at the Middleborough Rotary and proceeds in this combined fashion
north into Bridgewater. Land use along Route 28 is a mix of office, retail, highway commercial,
agricultural and single family as well as multi family residential uses; the area north of the Rotary consists
primarily of large industrial parks with some commercial and residential uses.
Route 18 is a state highway that provides a north-south access to Bridgewater to the north and Lakeville
and Rochester to the south. Route 18, provides one lane of travel in each direction and intersects and
combines with Rte 28 at the Middleborough Rotary and proceeds in this combined fashion north into
Bridgewater. Land use along Route 18 south of the Rotary consists of restaurants, and Ocean Spray
Cranberries Corporate Headquarters; north of the Rotary it consists primarily of large industrial parks
with some commercial and residential uses.
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Traffic, Congestion and Circulation Alternatives Middleborough residents rely on their private vehicles to
travel on the local and regional roadway network to meet their primary transportation needs. Other than
new commercial and residential subdivision roadways, there has been little change in the roadway system
in Middleborough in the past 20 years although Town officials have aggressively advocated for
significant changes.
Since the construction and opening of the new Rte 44 from Carver (Rte 58) to Plymouth (Rte 3) in 2004,
there has been a significant increase in traffic and congestion on Rte 44 (Rte 58 to I-495), at the I-495/Rte
44 and I-495/Rte 18 interchanges and at the Middleborough Rotary. The newly built section of Rte 44 has
resulted in significant commercial and residential development in the towns to the east of Middleborough
which generate additional vehicles that travel west on Rte 44 in order to access I-495. This Rte 44 traffic
congestion, westbound in the morning and eastbound in the evening, results in significant delays at the
four signalized intersections on Rte 44 in Middleborough, despite the recently redesigned and constructed
signal layouts at Old Center St., Everett St., Plymouth St. and Rte 105, which now provide dedicated
turning lanes. The long delays at the signalized intersections and Middleborough Rotary are causing
drivers to find detours and shortcuts through the downtown area and residential neighborhoods around the
Rotary including Vernon, Ash, Clay, Old Center and West Grove Streets and Anderson Ave.
Cut through traffic is now occurring from the Route 44/Rte105 intersection, travelling on Rte 105 through
East Main Street and the downtown to the I-495/Rte 105 interchange to avoid the congestion on Rte 44
and at the Middleborough Rotary.
Backups at the Middleborough Rotary during the PM peak hour of traffic, is causing travelers on I-495
southbound wishing to take the Rte 44 eastbound exit, Exit 6, to actually back up on the interstate
highway. Vehicles wishing to avoid this backup are proceeding past this exit to Exit 5, Rte 18, and are
entering the Rotary from the south and others travelling eastbound on Rte. 44 are taking the I-495
southbound exit to travel the short distance on I-495 to then get off at Rte 18 to again enter the Rotary
from the south rather than west. Additional large scale industrial development in the Town of Plympton
will further exacerbate this congestion. I-495 continues to experience significant backups in
Middleborough as a result of the decrease from 3 travel lanes to 2 travel lanes in each direction which is
particularly problematic during the summer tourist season on Friday and Sunday nights. This backup,
results in more traffic diverting to Rte 28 which runs parallel to I-495.
The Rte 105/I-495 interchange as well as the Rte 28/Rte105 intersection are heavily congested during
peak traffic hours without the addition of cut through traffic described above. Additional development in
the Town of Lakeville will further exacerbate the congestion in this area.
Future commercial, industrial and residential development within Middleborough and more critically in
abutting towns will generate more vehicle trips on local and regional roadways.
While commercial development in the western part of town will create more problems during the morning
and evening peak commuter hours, new residential development in other parts of town will result in more
off-peak and weekend traffic to schools, shopping areas and the Town’s recreation facilities. An increase
in residential population will also place more demands on parts of the transportation network used for
bicycling, jogging, hiking or horseback riding. Based on these findings, the following recommended
actions have been identified to help meet the future needs of the Town’s transportation system for the next
generation.
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Table 4 - DPW 2005 Report:
TOWN
147.19 miles
State
38.87 miles
Unaccepted
12.32 miles
Total
198.38 miles
Table 5 - SRPEDD Report: Roadway Mileage by Community
COMMUNITY
Interstate
Arterials
Collector
MIDDLEBOROUGH
14.19
26.49
39.84
Local
Total
113.41 193.93
The Town of Middleborough, SRPEDD and MADOT have identified locations in town that experience
high accident rates and warrant improvements through roadway widening and traffic signalization. First
and foremost is the Route 44 corridor between the Carver Town Line and I-495. Proposed improvements
include a combination of grade separation and at-grade intersection improvements as well as replacement
of the Middleborough Rotary. The Route 28 corridor also needs the implementation of recommended
transportation improvements because of recent and proposed commercial development projects. Route
105 between Route 28 and North Street needs to be reconstructed, and the Town has initiated the project,
which needs support from MADOT for funding. Rte 105 at the I-495 interchange is scheduled to be
signalized by MADOT, however the Town of Middleborough does not believe that the proposed signal
design adequately addresses the traffic needs of Clark Street East or West. Construction of this project
has not been initiated as of this date.
Evacuation Routes Route 44 serves as the evacuation route for populations to the east, specifically
residents of Plymouth, when required to evacuate the 10 mile zone around the Pilgrim Nuclear Power
Plant in Plymouth. Residents are to be sent to three Evacuation Centers located in Taunton, Bridgewater
and Braintree. According to the Town of Plymouth’s 2011 Public Emergency Information Calendar,
Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant which includes instruction on evacuation and routes to be taken, residents
from Zone #6 are instructed to travel west on Route 44 to I-495, then north on I-495 to Rte 24 to Taunton.
Residents from Zones 1, 2, 3 and 5 are encouraged to travel south on Route 3 to Rte 25/I-495, then north
on I-495 to Rte 24 to Taunton, although these zones are shown on the evacuation map in the same color as
the Rte 44 route and therefore it appears that Rte 44 is an alternate route. The routes designated in the
evacuation plan may appear to be circuitous to many residents, sending them south to go north or to travel
by “back roads” such as Rte 106, and residents may determine that the fastest way to leave the Plymouth
area to reach their designated shelters in Taunton and Bridgewater would be to utilize Rte 44. If this is the
case, the Rte 44 signalized intersections in Middleborough as well as the Rotary area may become
significantly congested causing cut through traffic attempting to find ways around the backups.
The 2006 Regional Hurricane Evacuation Plan by SRPEDD identifies Rte 44 and I-495 as evacuation
routes from Cape Cod, the Southcoast towns of Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett and Plymouth. Several
locations in Middleborough are identified as potentially inhibiting safe and adequate evacuation traffic
flow during an emergency situation. I-495 drops from 3 lanes to 2 between Rte. 25/I-495 and Rte. 24; Rte
44 drops from 2 lanes to 1 from Rte. 58 to I-495; and, the Middleborough Rotary experiences significant
congestion. The Conclusions and Recommendations contained in this report suggest that I-495 should be
14
Draft 9/19/11
widened to 3 lanes in each direction, Rte 44 be widened to 2 lanes in each direction and the
Middleborough Rotary be removed.
Railroad Middleborough is serviced by the Old Colony MBTA Commuter Rail line which provides train
service into Boston’s South Station. The Middleborough/Lakeville Station straddles the
Middleborough/Lakeville town line off of Route 105 in Lakeville. Middleborough also hosts the
commuter rail layover facility at the “Y” in the tracks off of RTE 105 and Clark Street West. In addition
to commuter rail service, the north-south tracks in Middleborough also provide freight service between
Cape Cod and areas to the north, sharing the single track Old Colony line. These tracks form a “Y” at the
layover facility where a second track used for freight service extends to the west toward Lakeville and
Myricks. The Conrail yard, located off of Station Street in downtown Middleborough, serves as the rail
yard for both the Myricks and Cape Cod tracks. The rail yard is used as a holding and staging area for
both full and empty rail cars and to “make-up” trains with specific cars to be sent off to various locations.
A significant amount of trash is sent to SEMASS, the regional waste to energy incinerator in Rochester,
utilizing the rail road which runs through Middleborough.
Land Use: Housing, Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.
Land use within the Town of Middleborough is characterized by large tracts of undeveloped and
agricultural land interspersed with clusters of development. The undeveloped land includes large,
relatively contiguous land areas. Open land ranges from agricultural upland to cranberry bogs and
reservoirs, undeveloped woodlands to large areas of wetlands. The Town has major concentrations of
open land in large parcels and multiple holdings, protected and unprotected, in its northeastern area. The
Cumberland Farm/Haseotes, Great Cedar Swamp properties straddle the town line with Halifax and
contain approximately 2000 acres of undeveloped land, half of which is farmed and the other half remains
regulated wetland. The adjacent Little Cedar Swamp area and the Taunton River corridor are similarly
undeveloped. In south Middleborough the 3000 acre Rocky Gutter Wildlife Refuge, Black Brook
Corridor and the water supply lands surrounding the Assawompsett Complex are vast areas of
predominantly protected undeveloped land.
Overall Land Use Observations The developed areas of Middleborough include concentrations of
business and residential uses around historic villages, business uses along highway and rail corridors as
well as large industrial parks located near the Middleborough Rotary, and residential uses in single lots
and in subdivisions that are generally located near the major highway and arterials that transect
Middleborough. The following map is indicative of the larger patterns of land use, and is available
through the Massachusetts GIS system; the more recent Middleborough GIS land use map is more useful
and detailed in many ways, but is not suitable for reproduction within the limits of this report because of
the extreme level of detail it provides.
Table 6 - Land Use Classifications and Areas Middleborough Assessor’s Data
Land Use Class
Area (ac. )
Cropland
Pasture
Forest
Wetland
2,360
2,360
27,926
1,108
15
Draft 9/19/11
Mining
Open Land
Recreation: participation
Recreation: spectator
Residential: MF
Residential: SF Less than 1/4 ac. Lots
Residential: SF 1/4 to 1/2 ac. Lots
Residential: SF Larger than 1/2 ac. Lots
Commercial
Industrial
Urban Open
Transportation
Waste Disposal
Water
Woody Perennial
287
1,215
83
85
74
328
874
3,888
336
231
355
787
85
1,947
2,407
Total Area*
46,738
Residential growth had been strong for new housing including single family, condominiums,
multifamily, and manufactured housing (mobile homes) until the economic downturn of 2008.
Table 7 - Building Permits
Units
Single Family
Manufactured
Condo
Multifamily
Total Units
2000
103
111
0
0
214
2001
147
136
2
0
285
2002
96
107
9
0
212
2003
83
147
53
2
285
2004
69
124
23
7
223
2005
77
88
54
0
219
16
2006
61
72
36
0
169
2007
64
40
4
0
108
2008
50
14
14
36
114
2009
25
4
12
0
41
2010
14
8
0
1
23
Total
789
851
207
46
1,893
Draft 9/19/11
Figure 2: Middleborough Community Character

Forecasts for the ten years by SRPEDD suggest that Middleborough’s population will continue to
increase, adding nearly 947 residents in the next ten years while averaging annual growth rates of
0.4%, which is much lower than the 1.6% per year experienced between 2000 and 2010.

New housing units produced in 2009 and 2010 were 23 and 14 respectively, a significant decrease
from the high of 285 in 2003. In the future, housing production may return to a rate that is more
reflective of the pre-2000 period whereby the number of units would increase in Middleborough at a
rate of about 80-100 units per year through 2020.

The expansion in housing will be filled by a population of households that current trends predict will
be a mix of young families and retirees.

Middleborough’s average household size is 2.67 persons, which is above regional averages, indicating
that a significant number of families are attracted to the way of life in Middleborough.

While the proportion of elderly within the population has been consistent with the regional averages,
this is shifting. The development of Oak Point, the 1150 unit senior mobile home development is
substantially changing the demographics of the town, which must be taken into account in planning
for services in the future.

These expected changes in the total population and in the number of households will influence
budgetary decisions, land use issues and local commercial expectations. These local changes will not
17
Draft 9/19/11
be solely based on the aggregate increases expected, but are also due to the relevant characteristics of
the town’s future population.

According to Middleborough’s Housing Production Plan the town’s housing stock in 2010 was 64%
single family, 11% mobile homes, 20% multifamily (including 2 family) and 5% condos and
townhouses.

Middleborough had 1,811 rental housing units or 26% of total units according to the 2000 US Census.

Housing prices in Middleborough have been affordable relative to other parts of the region. The
relatively low prices tended to make Middleborough a somewhat attractive housing location than
other areas. However, since the economic downturn and there has been a decrease in local prices, the
values are still greater than incomes and the ability to obtain mortgages continues to be a challenge.

The Town of Middleborough does not meet goals for low income housing supply, as currently defined
by the state. As a result, the Town may be subject to “Comprehensive Permit” projects that exceed
zoning standards or vary from local land use regulations, if such projects can supply additional
housing meeting state goals. The Town may consider other methods to add to its approved lowincome housing stock to promote diversity.

There are four private campgrounds in Middleborough: KOA at the corner of Plymouth and Rt. 44;
and three on Tispaquin Pond, YMCA’s Camp Yomechas on Wareham St., Camp Avoda on Gibbs
Rd. and Tispaquin Family Campground on Purchase St. The Fire Department would coordinate
evacuations with the campground directors.
Historical Development Patterns: The Village Structure Many towns in New England grew from a single
central location, and then spread outwards in a radial pattern along the roads that connected town centers
to the region. Middleborough’s historical development pattern is somewhat rare. The “islands” of upland
left between the wet lowlands were desirable locations for most land uses, and roads were easily built
across the sandy soil if they skirted the surface waters and wetlands. So Middleborough evolved as
numerous small clusters of “villages” or hamlets at the crossroads of a spider web-like network of roads.
Some of these villages were substantial, and became concentrations for a mixture of commercial,
residential and rural uses. Others were merely a convenient concentration of farms and associated
residences. The remnants of this scattered pattern of clustered settlements are visible in many locations
today, although their identity has often become obscured by time and the imposition of subsequent
development. Older residents in town relate to and use the village place names more than young folk or
newcomers as the villages contained neighborhood schools in the past making them geographically
important to the residents. The following locations are considered historic villages within the town:

North Middleborough (also called Titicut) – Pleasant and Plymouth Street, not far from the
Taunton River.
Middleborough Center –Centre St, North and South Main Streets and Wareham Street,
traditionally known as ‘Four Corners” because of the crossroads that define the Center.
Rock Village –Miller, Smith and Walnut Streets.
South Middleborough – Wareham and Locust Streets
The Green –East Main Street and Plymouth Street
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Draft 9/19/11

East Middleborough – Thompson Street area.
Eddyville –Plympton, Cedar and Carmel Streets.
Waterville –Plymouth Street between Carmel and Wall Street, south of Route 44.
Economic Development
Although Middleborough is considered a rural community because of its size and agricultural appearance,
it has been a commercial and industrial center since colonial times. The Business District, which
comprises only 0.2% of the Town, is a traditional “downtown” with main street and storefronts directly
adjacent to the broad sidewalks of Centre and Wareham Streets as well as North and South Main Streets,
which is also Route 105. Many of the buildings contain commercial space on the first floor and residential
apartments on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Downtown Middleborough is a National Historic Register District
The Development Opportunities District (DOD) is a zoning overlay district located on Rte 18/28 north of
the Rotary and north of Rte 44 west of the Rotary. This district has been designed to encourage large,
comprehensively planned industrial and commercial land uses on parcels of land with 10 acres or more.
Currently the town has three industrial developments: Campanelli Business Park has been permitted for
2.16 million s.f. of development, has 1.63 million s.f built to date with 445,000 s.f. of dedicated expansion
for current tenants; Middleborough Park @ 495 has been permitted for 1.09 million s.f. of development ,
has 289,564 s.f. built to date and 56,000 s.f. of planned expansion; and, Southpointe Corporate Center,
which may accommodate up to 1 million square feet of commercial or industrial development, has not
been built to date.
The town’s General Use (GU) District covers a large area of the town, generally running along Route 28
from Route 44 to the Wareham town line; although there are small GU zones in other locations. The GU
District allows single family and small commercial/light manufacturing uses by “right” and multifamily
uses and large commercial and manufacturing uses (with buildings greater than 20,000 s.f) by special
permit.
Although Middleborough has an Industrial District, it is not the center of industrial development. It is
located on River Street along the Taunton River and was zoned as such to accommodate the now defunct
K&F Brick Company. The district does not allow residential uses of any type, although most preexisting development is residential, and the area is inappropriate for most types of development as it is not
served by the public water or sewer system and soils are a limiting factor.
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Table 8 – Middleborough Employment by Industry
Source: SRPEDD
Table 9 – Largest Employers in Middleborough
Nature of Business
# of Employees
(approximate)
Warehouse/Distribution, Corporate Headquarters
Manufacturing
Manufacturing, Corporate Headquarters
Manufacturing, Corporate Headquarters
270
200
176
170
Long Term Care Medical Facility
156
Company Name
Christmas Tree Shops
Pavestone, Inc.
Brookfield Engineering
Ocean Spray Cranberries
Neuro-Rehabilitation
Center at Middleborough
NES Clothing
(Broder Brothers)
IDEX
Champion Exposition Services
Serta Mattress
Malden International Design
Groupo Bimbo Bakeries
Warehouse/Distribution
Manufacturing
Manufacturing, Warehouse/Distribution
Warehouse/Distribution
Corporate Headquarters
Distribution Center
20
160
134
120
95
75
50
Source:
Middlebor
ough
Office of
Economic
and
Communit
y
Developm
ent
Utilities
Gas and
Electric
Middle
boroug
h is a
major
utility
Draft 9/19/11
to its residents. As previously mentioned, Middleborough owns its own municipal utility, the
Middleborough Gas & Electric Department, which provides electric and natural gas service to the town’s
residents and businesses as well as to the Town of Lakeville.
Water Ground water provides drinking water to the residents of the town through both Middleborough’s
public water supply system and, in outlying areas, through private water supply wells. Middleborough
maintains 11 water supply wells and serves an average day demand of approximately 1.7 mgd and a
maximum day demand of approximately 3.12 mgd. The wells are located throughout town and include,
Cross St, Plympton St, East Main St 1 & 2, East Grove St, Tispaquin Pond 1 & 2 (Wareham St), Miller
St, Rock Pond 1 & 2 (Miller St) and Spruce St. Sixty nine percent (69%) of the population is served by
Middleborough’s public water supply system. Middleborough also supplies a small number of customers
in Lakeville due to groundwater contamination issues.
Wastewater Middleborough operates a public sewer system as well as a 2.16 mgd wastewater treatment
plant (WWTP) located on the Nemasket River north of Route 44. This system services the center of town
as well as the industrial parks in the DO District north of the Rotary. Middleborough’s Board of
Selectmen has maintained a moratorium on sewer line extensions, and prohibits any residential extensions
beyond the existing sewer service area, except for extensions relating to commercial development.
Currently, 7200 people or 31% of the population is served by Middleborough’s public sewer system as is
the Ocean Spray Corporate Headquarters on the Lakeville-Middleborough town line. There are 29 miles
of sewer line with 6 pump stations, two of which do not have emergency power backup. The WWTP is
within the 100 year floodplain of the Nemasket River and is also without emergency power backup.
Table 10 - Utilities within Middleborough
Community
Middleborough
Electric
Provider
Middleborough
Electric
Gas Provider
Water Source
Wastewater
Middleborough
Gas
Municipal Wells
Partial
Middleborough/ISDS
Cellular Communications There are a number of cellular communications towers located in the town
which provide service to the residents, emergency responders and surrounding communities. These
towers are generally located along the main highway corridors, although some equipment is located on
existing structures. Most of the towers host co-located facilities for more than one cell phone provider.
Table 11 - Cell Towers and Antennae within Middleborough
Owner
Location
Height
State Police Tower
Nextel
Nextel
West Grove Street - Barracks
499 Wareham Street
426 Wareham Street
185'
180'
150'
Southeast Comm.
121 Pine Street
180'
Crown Atlantic Company
Jaminac Corp.
Omnipoint
169 East Grove Street
376 West Grove Street
164 Everett Street
150'
180'
150'
21
Providers
Sprint
AT & T
AT & T
T-Mobile,
Sprint
Sprint
Draft 9/19/11
Owner
Nextel
Industrial Communications
Voicestream
T-Mobile
Town of Middleborough
Omnipoint
At & T
Town of Middleborough
Central congregational
Church
Fairfield Inn
Location
Height
Off Plympton Street
Off Katrina Road
31 Bedford Street
5 Clayton Road
111 Wareham Street - Water Tower
123 East Grove Street
81 Highland Street
Nickerson Avenue - Town Hall
Cupola
180'
190'
150'
150'
Providers
Omnipoint
Sprint
Nextel
150'
152'
T-Mobile
2 Webster Street - Church Steeple
3 Chalet Road - Hotel
Chapter 2 Conclusions
The following general characteristics, drawn from this profile, are relevant to the design of a disaster
mitigation strategy:
Middleborough is a growing community and the future indicates this will continue especially as
infrastructure improvements make it easier to live in Middleborough and work elsewhere
The growth of the past two decades has brought to town many new residents who are unfamiliar
with the weather and hurricane pattern of the area.
The substantial agriculture resources of Middleborough are at risk from natural hazards. The large
number of cranberry bogs and their appurtenant reservoirs makes dam integrity and failure a
significant issue.
The rural nature and size of the community makes communication and response for emergency
services more difficult.
The presence of a large open space parcels, wildlife management area, and major undeveloped
tracts make Middleborough more vulnerable to wildfires than other areas. New construction is
occurring in areas vulnerable to wildfire and the Town lacks a public water supply in many of the
outlying areas.
Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards and Middleborough has a sizeable
number of mobile homes. In addition, as a senior complex, this population is elderly with the
associated response needs.
In general Middleborough is a wet town – with swamps, bogs, ponds, streams, and rivers making
up approximately 50% of the town’s area. Flooding is an issue and can be exacerbated when
natural vegetation and debris collects in the many miles of connected waterways in the town or
when flood mitigation is not employed during new development that adds impervious area to a
watershed.
22
Draft 9/19/11
Chapter Three: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
This chapter will discuss the natural hazards and evaluate the risk they pose to residents, homes and
businesses. Each natural hazard is identified and profiled with information on the hazard’s dimensions,
history, and risk factors. Risk will be examined in terms of the likelihood of the natural hazard occurring;
the geographic area that the natural hazard could affect; and the impacts that could be expected. The
“likelihood” or probability of an event occurring is determined by reviewing historical events and
consulting expert opinion, while GIS mapping is used to evaluate the area that could be affected.
Information on the development characteristics of Middleborough from the profile chapter is used to
estimate the impacts of natural hazards on critical facilities, vulnerable populations, and infrastructure.
The discussion here on risk assessment draws heavily from SRPEDD’ Regional Plan. Maps for this
section are provided at the end of the chapter.
Flood Related Hazards:
Description of Flood Hazard The state Hazard Mitigation Plan of 2010, records flooding as the number
one hazard faced within the state.2 This is not surprising given that a number of natural hazards can cause
flooding including: hurricanes, Nor’easters, thunderstorms, and winter storms. Middleborough has several
flooding problems with the hundred year floodplain although flooding after a hurricane may be more
severe. The growth of Middleborough has meant that pervious land has become more impervious,
increasing the amount of runoff from normal precipitation, although all new subdivisions and major
developments are required to mitigate post development runoff increases over pre-development
conditions for up to and including the 100 year storm event.
As indicated by the Critical Facility and Flood map, the 100-year floodplain areas in Middleborough are
located along river corridors and round ponds including the Assawompsett Pond Complex. Further
evaluation should be undertaken to assess whether this land area is the rear portion of developed lots,
wetland areas or in any other way restricted from development. Much of this area may be associated with
bogs.
Dam Safety Regulations Middleborough has 17 dams covered by the Massachusetts Office of Dam
Safety. Many of these facilities are smaller dams (or flumes) associated with the cranberry industry and
are used to manage water supply relative to cranberry growing and harvesting.
A listing of these
facilities is included at the end of this Chapter.
The Office of Dam Safety (ODS), a division of the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR), has jurisdictional authority over dams that meet the following criteria: dam structure six feet or
higher, or impoundment of 15 acre feet3 or more, or a significant downstream hazard as determined by
staff review (e.g. campground, densely developed area, major thoroughfare, etc.). This includes
government and privately owned dams. Revisions of the Dam Safety Statute, MGL Ch. 253 §§ 44-50,
significantly changed the responsibilities of dam owners to register, inspect and maintain dams in good
operating condition. Amendments to Dam Safety Regulations 302 CMR 10.00-10.16 became effective
November 4, 2005 and are reflective of the statutory changes require owners to register the dams and have
2
3
Massachusetts Hazard Mitigation Plan, 1999 Update, p.10.
Acre foot = Amount of water that fills one acre of land to a depth of one foot, approx. 300,000 galloons of water.
23
Draft 9/19/11
them professionally inspected at the owner’s expense, every two years. While the monitoring of dam
condition falls to the owner, be it a private or public entity, damage from dam failure may include
multiple owners and even property across town boundaries.
Dam owners must complete a Dam Registration Form provided by the ODS. The ODS will then issue a
Dam Registration Certificate to the dam owner for recording at registry of deeds. The dam owner must
record the certificate as an attachment to the record deed and provide Dam Safety with a copy of the
recorded certificate. When land ownership is transferred from one owner to another, a revised Dam
Registration Form must be submitted to the ODS in a timely manner to initiate issuance of an updated
Dam Registration Certificate which must be recorded.
Owners of dams are required by 302 CMR 10.07 to hire a qualified engineer to inspect and report results
every 2 years for High Hazard Potential dams, every 5 years for Significant Hazard Potential dams and
every 10 years for Low Hazard Potential dams. Hazard Potential Classification includes the following:
High Hazard Potential dam refers to dams located where failure will likely cause loss of life and serious
damage to home(s), industrial or commercial facilities, important public utilities, main highway(s) or
railroad(s).
Significant Hazard Potential dam refers to dams located where failure may cause loss of life and
damage home(s), industrial or commercial facilities, secondary highway(s) or railroad(s) or cause
interruption of use or service of relatively important facilities.
Low Hazard Potential dam refers to dams located where failure may cause minimal property damage to
others. Loss of life is not expected.
Emergency Action Plans: MGL Chapter 253 and 302 CMR 10.00 requires that dam owners prepare,
maintain and update Emergency Action Plans for all High Hazard Potential dams and certain Significant
Hazard Potential dams. http://www.mass.gov/dcr/pe/damSafety
The Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety reports that the region’s dams, like the other parts of New
England infrastructure, are an aging infrastructure that is expensive to repair. Routine maintenance is
necessary to control the growth of trees and keep the area clear so defects can be detected. In addition to
aging, the region’s dams are often doing work beyond their original design. The increase in impervious
surfaces leads to increased flows in some streams and rivers and thus greater demands are placed on the
dams. In 2010, the Stony Brook Pond dam at the Pratt Farm Conservation Area “overtopped” after heavy
precipitation, and came close to catastrophic failure. When this happens the dams can fail quickly as the
earthen structures are subject to erosion pressures. The Riverways Program within the Massachusetts
Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Environmental Law Enforcement (DFWELE), has been studying
the larger environmental costs of both operational dams and dam failures. Dam failures may cause loss of
life and property downstream, but they may also degrade the environment. Many dams act as a holding
area for contaminated sediments. With a dam failure, these sediments are released and can damage
wildlife and the ecology of the river system. An associated cost of dam failures is the potential for such
destruction to affect fish ladders or culverts for directing water. The Riverways Program is looking to
develop an assessment tool for evaluating dams for all aspects of safety, including environmental safety.
24
Draft 9/19/11
The State Office of Ecological Restoration is investigating and encouraging the removal of unnecessary
dams within Massachusetts and the State is reportedly providing funding for such endeavors.
In summary, flooding due to a variety of causes (hurricanes, Nor’easters, thunderstorms, winter storms,
and dam failure) is highly likely in Middleborough and would affect a large geographic area and
population base thus having an impact of medium degree. The severity of the impacts on persons,
property, and public infrastructure can be expected to be significant but limited.
Previous Occurrences of Flood Hazards - Middleborough experiences flooding because of its low flat
topography and number of rivers, streams and ponds; however, the large amount of natural wetland areas
and floodplains as well as other undeveloped lands within the town have protected it more than other
areas. Flooding occurs from two types of storms, short duration, high intensity rain events causing flash
flooding, and long duration sometimes back to back moderate intensity rain events. Flash flooding
impacts infrastructure, such as roads, which may not be mapped as flood prone areas but flood because of
the drainage systems inability to pass flows quickly enough. Drainage systems are designed for the “100
year storm” or 7” of rainfall over a 24 hour period. This is different from the “100 year flood” which is
the flood event causing an elevation of flooding having a 1% chance of occurring in a given year. You
may have a 100 year flood without having a 100 year storm. Middleborough experienced two 100 year
floods in 2010, on 3/17/10 and again on 4/1/10. This was due to heavy rains over 3 or more days during
each event. A USGS flood gauge is located at the Titicut Street Bridge on the Taunton River, which
provides instantaneous river elevation data, flood projections, historic crests, etc. through the National
Weather Service’s River Forecast Center, found at
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=box&gage=bdgm3. According to the River
Forecast Center, the flood stage of the Taunton River is 10.50 ft on the stream gauge, with historic crests
as follows (Note: NAD83 Datum to be adjusted to match FEMA FIRM elevations on NAVD88 Datum):
Table 12 - Historical Taunton River Crests
Flood Rank
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10)
Height Stream
Gauge
14.97 ft
14.51 ft
14.48 ft
13.02 ft
12.54 ft
12.49 ft
12.40 ft
12.21 ft
11.90 ft
11.30 ft
Date
04/01/2010
03/17/2010
03/20/1968
08/21/1955
04/08/1987
03/27/1969
10/17/2005
06/09/2006
12/28/1969
03/24/2001
Gauge Elevation
NAD83 Datum
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
9.61 ft
Flood Elevation
NAD83 Datum
24.58 ft
24.12 ft
24.09 ft
22.63 ft
22.15 ft
22.10 ft
22.01 ft
21.82 ft
21.51 ft
20.91 ft
(Source: National Weather Service’s River Forecast Center with Flood Elevation by Middleborough Planning Department)
25
Draft 9/19/11
Location and Extent of Flood Hazards
Assawompsett Pond Complex (APC) - During the 100 year flood as experienced on 3/17/10 and 4/1/10,
the APC experienced extensive flooding, seriously impacting the four towns of Middleborough,
Lakeville, Freetown and Rochester, where the ponds are located. Lakeville and Freetown were hit
hardest, as more homes and road infrastructure are located around the ponds in these towns. Route 18 in
Lakeville was closed for almost 3 weeks. Residents near the APC had been complaining for months prior
to the floods, that they felt the City of New Bedford was maintaining the ponds’ water at too high a level
going into the winter/spring months and that Middleborough’s Nemasket Park Dam on the Nemasket
River, at Wareham Street, was also prohibiting water from leaving the ponds. As a result of the floods,
two advisory committees were created to study the flooding events and determine actions for future
mitigation of such flooding. The “Dam Committee” studied the hydrologic and hydraulic aspects of the
flooding, was supported by staff from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Southeast
Regional Office, and included representatives from the cities and towns involved, specifically those with
water control structures; and, the second “Nemasket River Committee” was tasked with studying the
Nemasket River, and identifying obstructions and possible methods for improving flow, was also
supported by DEP staff..
It was determined by the Dam Committee, in April 2011, through the assistance of Dr. Neil Fennessey of
UMASS Dartmouth, that a decision support system and operations management plan for the APC and the
Nemasket River, needed to be done in order to develop a management protocol that adequately addressed
the needs of all Pond Complex stakeholders. This comprehensive plan needed to be developed to manage
the APC/Nemasket River system particularly during prolonged drought or flooding. The “firm yield,” or
the daily water withdrawal rate that can be reliably maintained during a prolonged drought, would be the
essential first step to address water supply needs. The study would help water supply managers’ plan and
prepare for floods and would help determine the cause of the 2010 flooding. Implementation of the dam,
ponds, and river operating rules and recommendations from this proposed study would help reduce future
flooding, property damage, and the need for federal disaster flood relief through FEMA. The proposed
investigation would consist of three major objectives: (1) develop a mathematical, computer-based model
of the APC and its contributing watershed, to establish the firm yield and reservoir management operating
rules for the APC; (2) develop a computer-based model of the Nemasket River above the fish ladder and
the Nemasket Park Dam in Middleborough to determine its conveyance capacity and devise operating
rules for the Middleborough dam; together, these two models would comprise the DSS computer model;
and, (3) stakeholders would use the DSS to develop a comprehensive resource management plan for the
APC and the Nemasket River. The management plan and operating rules would guide operators as to
how much water to reliably withdraw for public water supply, when to hold water back or release water,
and how much, in anticipation of drought or flooding and riparian needs. In addition, the proposed study
and management plan would anticipate and provide guidance for the widest range of climate change
scenarios as well as fishery and other needs, it would also examine and develop strategies to ameliorate
Nemasket river conveyance restrictions due to aquatic vegetation and to coordinate the operation of the
Assawompset Pond Dam and water supply system, the Nemasket Park Dam, and the Middleborough East
Grove Street water supply well.
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Figure 3: Assawompsett Pond Complex Watershed
Source:Dr Neil Fennessey, UMASSDartmouth
The type of study envisioned is very expensive and currently there are no sources of funding adequate to
support this task. In the interim, a temporary protocol has been established between New Bedford and
Taunton who utilize the ponds for water supply withdrawals; the Town of Middleborough who manages
the Nemasket Park Dam and maintains the East Main St. well and the wastewater treatment plant on the
Nemasket River; the Lakeville-Middleborough Herring Fisheries Committee overseeing the needs of the
alewife fishery; and, officials from the four host towns representing residents around the ponds and
recreational pond users. The protocols target optimum pond levels by specific time of year and amount of
rainfall received or expected to be received. The target pond levels are as follows:
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Table 13 - Assawompsett Pond Target Water Levels by Season
POND
TIME OF YEAR
ELEVATION
December, January, February, into mid-March
Mid-March to June
53.0
increase to 54.0
Early June, July, August and into September
October and November
54.0 to 53.5
decrease from
53.5 to 53.0
Source: William Schwartz, City of Taunton, Water Department
The protocol’s development has also created a process for daily pond elevation readings by the City of
Taunton which are distributed via email by Taunton to specific committee members on a weekly basis and
there is now routine contact between New Bedford, Taunton and Middleborough officials who coordinate
adjusting water control structures at the Assawompsett Pond Dam and at the Nemasket Park Dam based
on protocol elevations with the effects of the adjustments similarly reported to one another.
Nemasket River - The Nemasket River experiences flooding as indicated by the FEMA Flood Insurance
Rate Maps (FIRMs). The river is controlled by two dams, one at Assawompsett Pond known as “the
gatehouse” and the bascule dam at Wareham Street known as the Nemasket Park Dam. The River is very
flat with slow flows, which means that water released form Assawompsett Pond does not clear out
quickly. Areas of flooding include the homes on Montello Street near East Main Street, the East Main
Street wastewater pumping station, Oliver Mill Park, the East Grove Street well and the Town’s WWTP
off of Everett Street. During the 100 year flood experienced on 3/17/10 and 4/1/10, the WWTP
experienced extensive flooding and a number of unique waste handling procedures were employed to
prevent discharge of untreated wastewater to the Nemasket River. Although the Town’s DPW & Electric
Plant are located on Wareham Street at the Nemasket River, these buildings are not within the 100 year
flood plain and were not impacted by the 2010 floods. However it should be noted, that catastrophic
unforeseen flooding as experienced in other locations in the country, could adversely impact both of these
buildings.
Taunton River – The Taunton River experiences flooding as indicated by the FEMA FIRMs. A USGS
flood gauge is located at the Titicut Street Bridge, with instantaneous elevation data, flood projections, etc
provided by the National Weather Service’s River Forecast Center, at
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=box&gage=bdgm3. With the lack of homes on the
River most of the flooded lands are woods and wetlands. During the 100 year flood as experienced on
3/17/10 and 4/1/10, Woloski Park was inundated, but other homes remained out of the flooded area. It is
anticipated that flood events greater than the 100 year event including up to the 500 year flood, would
impact many more homes along the Taunton River not usually prone to flooding. During the 100 year
floods of 2010 both the Summer Street Bridge and the Titicut Street Bridge roadway approaches flooded
on the northern sides, requiring the roads to be closed. The Summer Street Bridge replacement project,
currently underway through 2011, should alleviate this Summer Street flooding when completed.
Assawompsett Pond Dam – The dam (“gatehouse”) at the headwaters of the Nemasket River regulating
flows from Assawompsett Pond is earthen with a granite spillway structure containing five six-foot wide
bays with flumes controllable by wooden planks and a 2 foot wide fish ladder. The spillway is 4 feet high
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by 43 feet long and was built in 1904. The most recent study and report on this dam was done by and
was dated . The dam is owned and controlled by the City of Taunton.
Nemasket Park Dam – The Nemasket Park Dam is located on the Nemasket River at Wareham Street
and is owned by the Town of Middleborough. It consists of a 15’ high by 110 foot long earthen structure
supporting Wareham Street and the overflow spillway is controlled by an adjustable steel bascule gate. A
fish ladder was constructed in this dam in 1969. Dam Safety Regulations categorize this structure as
Intermediate in size due to its height and 680 acre-foot storage capacity and as a Class II or significant
Hazard Dam. Pare Engineering, Inc. inspected this dam in 1998 and prepared a report entitled
“Department of Environmental Management, Office of Dam Safety, Municipally Owned Dam,
Inspection/Evaluation Report”. The most recent report for Dam Safety was dated February 22, 2010 by
GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
Pratt Farm Dams - The Town of Middleborough Conservation Commission owns the Pratt Farm
Conservation Area on East Main Street which contains 2 dams, the 9.3 foot high by 140 foot long Stony
Brook Pond earthen, concrete and timber dam, on the east side of the farm; and, the 8 foot high by 114
foot long Sachem Street earthen dam on the west side of the farm. Both dams are controlled by flumes
with wooden flashboards to regulate the height of water. During the major flooding which occurred on
3/16/10 and 4/1/10 (100 year flood) the Stony Brook dam overtopped with water tearing out the
unprotected downstream embankment. Local cranberry growers, with great difficulty, assisted the Town
in pulling flashboards during the storm and National Guardsmen placed sandbags on the dam to shore it
up and prevent total failure. The Sachem Street dam was undermined from below the surface, leaving a
large sinkhole in the center of the dam. This was also shored up by National Guardsmen. Downstream
structures that may be impacted by the failure of either of the Pratt Farm Dams include East Main Street
(Rte 105), the neighborhood of homes on East Main, Montello St and Sachem Street, and the Town’s East
Main Street Water Pumping Station. A dam study was recently completed by the Office of Dam Safety
entitled “’Stony Brook Pond Dam’ Phase I, Inspection and Evaluation Report” by Pare Corporation, dated
March 22, 2011.
Shingle Mill Pond off of Plympton St. – The Town of Middleborough Water Department purchased a 92
acre parcel of land located between Plympton and Fuller Streets for water supply purposes in 2002,
locally known as the “Fuller Street Property”. This land has an access road off of Plympton Street
immediately before house # 100 and across the street from house #99, which leads to and crosses a 10.67
foot high by 188 foot long earthen, fieldstone and timber dam on the property with a concrete weir water
control structure. The dam holds water back on a brook flowing east to west creating Shingle Mill Pond, a
5+ foot deep cranberry bog reservoir, located on the eastern side of the access road. During the major
flooding which occurred on 3/16/10 and 4/1/10 (100 year flood) this dam was at the point of overtopping
with water beginning to flow over the unprotected embankment. National Guardsmen placed sandbags on
the dam to prevent failure. Downstream structures from the dam include numerous cranberry bogs and a
couple of residences including a Bed & Breakfast.
Marion Road Cranberry Reservoir Dam – A cranberry bog reservoir located on the east side of Marion
Road north of Perry Street was created through the construction of an 11 foot high by 700 foot long dike
along and directly adjacent to Marion Road; the dike was not designed by an engineer, nor was it
constructed with the normal safety components, such as controllable rather than fixed weir outlet,
emergency spillway and slopes devoid of trees and woody vegetation. Failure of the dam could impact
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Marion Road and the New Bedford Water Supply property in the Assawompsett Pond Complex on the
west side of the road across from the dam. A permit for the dam’s reconstruction was issued by the
Office of Dam Safety, in June 2004 as part of the approval of subdivision modification allowing the
adjacent Walnut Hill Estates to discharge drainage through the reservoir; however, the subdivision
modification was never constructed and the dam was not reconstructed; the Dam Safety Permit has now
expired. During the major flooding which occurred on 3/16/10 and 4/1/10 (100 year storm) debris
indicates that water reached the top of the dam adjacent to Marion Road and flowed over in one location
near the fixed outlet structure. No slope damage or erosion was observed from the slight overtopping,
however.
Other Dams – The Town of Middleborough supports a large cranberry industry and many streams have
been dammed to create cranberry bog reservoirs, used for irrigation. These dams range in size, height and
structural integrity. The location, condition and ownership of these many dams are unknown and there is
no information readily available, although the Town is working with the Office of Dam safety to acquire
some type of list.
Road Closure Locations – During periods of major flooding, such as the events which occurred on
3/16/10 and 4/1/10 (100 year storm), accessibility around the town was prohibited, due to flooding of
many roads and bridges. This caused the necessity to reroute traffic as well as to install signage and
barricades. In one location on Summer Street, the road totally washed out. Attached is a map showing
the locations where flooding occurred causing the closure of that specific road. Notable locations include
but are not limited to: Summer and Titicut Street bridges over Taunton River, Murdock and Plymouth
Street bridges over the Nemasket River, Vernon Street bridge over Poqouy Brook, Plymouth Street
culvert over Purchade Brook, Tispaquin Street over Fall Brook and in other locations, Wood Street
culvert over Fall Brook and Walnut Street north of Owl Swamp.
Woloski Park – Woloski Park is a community of 11 homes located on the Taunton River in north
Middleborough. The lands, on which the homes are located, with the exception of one, are within the 100
year floodplain. Access to Woloski Park is via a dead-end gravel road which crosses Purchade Brook via
a 600 foot long causeway. The causeway floods at the 2 year storm event, is overtopped by 3.5’ of water
at the 10 year flood and at the 100 year flood the road is under 8 feet of water; access is available by boat
only. Emergency response to these homes is problematic during routine calls while the road is flooded
and the multiple evacuations necessary for complete evacuation during catastrophic events is a significant
burden to emergency responders and others.
Repetitive Losses and NFIP
NFIP The town of Middleboro has 34 NFIP policies in force as of 12-31-10. This accounts for
$7,794,400 in insurance in force with a total premium of $33,032. This means the average policy in
Middleboro is about $972.
There has been a total of 20 NFIP Claims (with only 15 actually being paid out) since 1981 when
Middleboro joined the NFIP Program. The total claims paid is $181,502.18
Repetitive Loss Properties A repetitive loss property is any property, which the National Flood
Insurance Program (NFIP) has paid two or more flood claims of $1,000 or more in any, given 10 year
period since 1978.
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As of 2011 there has been 1 property that meets FEMA’s definition of repetitive loss in Middleboro. This
property is residential and is located on the Taunton River in north Middleborough
Hurricanes, Tropical Storms and High Wind Events
While New England is not the area of the United States most burdened by hurricanes, the Atlantic coast of
the United States can expect to see an average of 2 major hurricanes every 3 years4 and New England can
expect one major landfall in each decade.5 This is in part due to the geography of Massachusetts—its
projection easterly into the Atlantic places it in the typical path of storms that originate in Cape Verde or
the Bahamas. Hurricanes are tropical storms that obtain wind speeds of 74 miles per hour or greater and
are accompanied by heavy rainfall. Since hurricanes are formed at sea, storm surge is a concern when
hurricanes make landfall. The National Weather Service reports, “southern New England has been
affected by forty-one such storms since 1900, 12 of which made landfall with significant impact.” 6 Table
14 reflects the history of these events. The tracks of storms that made landfall within the region are
reflected on the map, Hurricane Data: Wind and Flood Related Hazards. It should be noted, however,
that these paths are neither indicators of future behavior nor the full representation of hurricane impacts in
the region. The heaviest areas of hurricane damage are on the eastern side of landfall, as the storm moves
in a large counter-clockwise spinning spiral. The most damaging storms have made landfall and
tracked to the west of this region- including the major 1938 unnamed hurricane that made landfall in
Milford Connecticut and the 1954 Hurricane Carol that made landfall in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Mapping the paths of hurricanes that made landfall in the region since 1860 shows that eight hurricanes,
of varying intensity, crossed the region. The inset tells a more complete story about hurricane damage, by
indicating those hurricanes that made landfall as far west of the region as the Rhode Island border. Figure
5 indicates the frequency of hurricane events in southern New England during the past hundred years.
The likelihood that southeastern Massachusetts will experience a hurricane is “medium”.
Table 14 - History of Southern New England Hurricanes
NAME
DATE
INTENSITY
Unnamed
7/21/1916
CAT 1
Twelve significant
Unnamed
9/21/1938
CAT 3
Unnamed
9/14-15/1944
CAT 3
tropical cyclones
Carol
8/31/1954
CAT 3
impacted southern New Edna
9/11/1954
CAT 3
Diane
8/18-20/1955
TS
England, 1900-1999.
Donna
9/12/1960
CAT 2
Storm intensity at
Belle
8/9-10/1976
CAT 1
9/27/1985
CAT 2
landfall is given by the Gloria
8/19/1991
CAT 2
Saffir/Simpson scale or Bob
Bertha
7/12-13/1996
TS
TS for tropical storm.
Floyd
9/18/1999
TS
Hermine
8/31/04
TS
8/29/11
CAT 1
Irene
Source: Vallee, D. “A Centennial Review of Major Land Falling Tropical Cyclones in Southern New England. [Available at:
www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/tropical_cyclones.htm]
4
Jarrel et al, 4.
Vallee, D. “A Centennial Review of Major Land Falling Tropical Cyclones in Southern New England. [Available at:
www.erh.noaa.gov/er/box/tropical_cyclones.htm], p.2.
6
Vallee “A Centennial Review”,p 1.
5
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Figure 4: Monthly Tropical Cyclone Distribution
Figure 5: Tropical Cyclone Frequency
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Table 15 - Saffir-Simpson Scale for Hurricane Classification
Strength
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Category 4
Category 5
Wind
Speed
(mph)
74-95
96-110
96-113
131-155
>135
Pressure
(millibars)
Storm Surge
(feet)
>980mb
965-979mb
945-964
920-944
919
4-5 ft.
6-8 ft.
9-12 ft.
13-18 ft.
18 ft.
Tropical Cyclone Classification
Tropical Depression
Tropical Storm
Hurricane
20-34 kt or 23-39 mph
35-64 kt or 40-73 mph
65+ kt or 74+ mph
In assessing the magnitude or severity of damage from a hurricane in southeastern Massachusetts,
consideration must be given to the timing of the event. Hurricanes that make landfall during high tide
will have much greater storm surge and thus flood larger areas. In addition, hurricane season runs from
June 1 to November 30, a period that includes the summer population swells experienced by several
southeastern Massachusetts communities. The timing of the storm relative to other weather events also
has a bearing on the overall impact of the hurricane. If a hurricane follows another hurricane or a major
rain event, the effects can be magnified as flooding is greater and weakened or loosened trees are more
susceptible to toppling. High wind impacts are also greater when leaves remain on deciduous trees, in
spring, summer and fall rather than winter months, and are especially great if the ground is saturated at the
same time. Hurricanes, tropical storms as well as tropical depressions may cause significant flooding
from long duration, high intensity rainfall as recently occurred on August 28, 2011 up and down the
eastern seaboard from hurricane Irene.
The severity of an event considers the potential for loss of life, property damage, and critical facility or
business interruption. Most experts anticipate that the next major New England hurricane will have
severe impacts because present residents are unaware of the serious danger and major property
investment has increased the value of structures in the region. Given that the last major storm event
was nearly twenty years ago, there is concern that those who have re-located to the area during this period
or come of age during this period, are unaware of the real danger posed by a powerful hurricane. NOAA
(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) estimates that 80-90% of the population now living
in United States coastal areas has never experienced a major hurricane.7 This lack of firsthand knowledge
can cause lax response to warnings and poor or little preparedness.8 When residents are slow to respond
to warnings the severity of impacts can be expected to be greater.
The new population has come with increased residential construction. Given the rating categories within
severity of impacts (see Table 19), “Extensive” is described, as “widespread major property damage;
major public infrastructure damage (up to several days for repairs); essential services are interrupted from
7
“Hurricanes: Unleashing Nature’s Fury”, August, 2001, ARC 5030, NOAA/PA 94050, p.8.
Jarrell, J. “The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Hurricanes from 1900 – 2000. NOAA Technical
Memorandum NWS TPC-1, [Available at www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/deadly/index.html], p. 8.
8
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several hours to several days; many injuries and/or fatalities” appears to fit the severity of damages
Middleborough could expect. Of course, a powerful storm on a particular tract could inflict much greater
damage.
A number of the storm events discussed under “Flood Related Hazards”, also represent wind hazards to
the region. Hurricanes and Nor’easters typically have high winds that can topple trees, knock out power
lines, and carry dangerous debris. Southeastern Massachusetts communities need to be prepared for high
wind events. Wind has primary and secondary impacts. That is, property damage may occur as roofs are
blown off and trees or power lines are blown down, but this is often followed by secondary impacts as the
debris from one structure is blown into another structure or vehicle, and downed power lines cause fire or
electrocution. The lack of power creates other problems for Middleborough residents. Only 69% of the
population is served by the public water supply leaving 31% or 7165 residents to rely on private wells
which do not function during power failures unless the residents own gas powered generators. As more
septic systems are built above grade where groundwater is high, the use of electric sewage pumps is
necessary. Power failures in these areas present a further health risk. Sump pumps that many homes rely
on similarly are unable to function. Middleborough’s rural wooded nature means that there are a large
number of trees shading the public roads, older homes enjoy the presence of large mature trees and new
homes are often built nestled in the woods. The proximity of so many trees threatens the homes
themselves as well as persons walking or in vehicles being hit or killed by falling limbs.
Tornadoes
The Middleborough map Hurricane & Tornado reflects the 100-year wind exposure zones defined by the
American Society of Civil Engineers (ACSE) construction standards. The wind exposure standard is used
to determine the construction needed to withstand an average wind gust lasting 3 seconds at 33 feet off the
ground. Middleborough is in the 100 mph zone. The ASCE standards are only used for high-rise
structures, but the mapped zones indicate wind patterns as determined through readings and modeling.
These patterns are consistent with the general regional weather patterns that indicate inland areas have
less severe winds than coastal areas. As of January 1, 2008, the Massachusetts Building Code 780 CMR
categorizes Middleborough in the 110 MPH zone for basic wind speeds.
Table 16 - Enhanced Fujita Tornado Damage Scale
SCALE
WIND (MPH)
TYPICAL DAMAGE
EF0
< 73
EF1
73-112
EF2
113-157
EF3
158-206
EF4
207-260
EF5
261-318
Light Damage: Some damage to chimneys; branches broken off trees; shallow-rooted
trees pushed over; sign boards damaged
Moderate Damage: Peels surface off roofs; mobile homes pushed off foundations or
overturned; moving autos blown off roads.
Considerable Damage: Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars
overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted
off ground
Severe Damage: Roofs and some walls torn off well-constructed houses; trains
overturned; most trees in forest uprooted; heavy cars lifted off the ground and thrown.
Devastating Damage: Well-constructed houses leveled; structures with weak
foundations blown away some distance; cars thrown and large missiles generated.
Incredible Damage: Strong frame houses leveled off foundations and swept away;
automobile-sized missiles fly through the air in excess of 100 meters (109 yds); trees
debarked; incredible phenomena will occur.
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Occasional contributors to wind hazards are tornadoes. Since 1950, the southeastern Massachusetts
region has experienced 15 tornadoes. Table 17 lists the dates and intensity of the event as determined by
the tornado Fujita Scale, which is detailed in Table 16. Within this region, tornadoes tend to be more
likely in the months of May – September and the hours of 3 – 6 PM. The National Weather Service
reports that despite technological advances in equipment, the warning window for a tornado is still only
about 2 minutes. In addition, this warning is very general, typically covering an area as large as a
county.9 Massachusetts ranks nationally as 35th in occurrences of tornadoes for the period 1950 – 1995,
but 16th in fatalities and 12th in property damages based on these same events.10 Massachusetts can expect
on average, three tornadoes per year through out the state.11 Tornadoes and other natural hazards that
bring high winds, can affect the entire southeastern Massachusetts region. Thus all populations are
vulnerable, but given that 38% of tornado fatalities are in mobile homes12, mobile home park residents are
a more vulnerable group than the general population. The higher fatalities does not reflect the fact that
mobile home parks are more likely to be hit by a tornado, but rather that if hit mobile homes are more
vulnerable to damage.
Middleborough has three senior mobile home parks: Hillcrest on East Grove Street with 95 units; Oak
Point off of Plain Street with 895 occupied units, permitted for 1150 units at full build; and, Edgeway
Estates off of Rhode Island Rd (Rte 79) with 52 occupied units and 74 units at full build out. Oak Point
and Edgeway have been constructed since 1998 and consist mainly of double wide manufactured housing
units that would comply with the most recent HUD construction Standards. Hillcrest, however contains
units built between the as early as the 1950’s and do not comply with current HUD standards. When
Hillcrest units are replaced, which is very infrequently, the new unit is required to comply with HUD and
Massachusetts Building Code standards.
Table 17 - Tornadoes 1950 – 1995, Bristol & Plymouth Counties
Bristol County
Plymouth County
Date
F-Scale
June 9, 1953
September 7, 1958
August 9, 1968
August 9, 1968
August 2, 1970
August 28, 1970
September 14, 1972
Date
September 7, 1958
July 4, 1964
June 9, 1965
November 18, 1967
August 9, 1968
September 16, 1986
July 10, 1989
July 10, 1989
F3
F0
F1
F1
F1
F2
F0
F-Scale
F0
F1
F0
F2
F1
F1
F1
F0
9
Interview with Glenn Field, July 2003.
http://nebraskaweather.unl.edu/severe/USspc_state_tornado_information_alpha_2.htm
11
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/severeweather/small/avgt5095.gif
12
http://nebraskaweather.unl.edu/severe/UStornfacts.htm
10
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Nor’easters, Winter Storms, and Ice
Nor’easters are a common winter event in New England (1-2 each year13) and they bring high winds and
sustained rains. They are more problematic in part because they have a longer duration – 12 hours to 3
days, versus 6 to12 hours for hurricanes. Many southeastern Massachusetts communities will have
flooding associated with the heavy precipitation of Nor’easter storms. Problems can be exacerbated when
the rains fall and the melting of snow and ice is added to the flow. The large chunks of ice that are freed
can clog drainage passages and increase localized flooding. This flooding can affect private residences,
businesses, and public infrastructure such as roadways and storm drains.
The hazard map for Middleborough, Nor’easters & Blizzards indicates the snowfall pattern. The majority
of Middleborough falls within a band of lower average annual snowfall 24.1 to 36 inches per year, with
approximately the northern fourth classified in the higher snow band of 36 – 48 inches of snow each year.
According to NOAA, the greater Providence area (covering the western section of southeastern
Massachusetts) has a 20% chance each year of having at least 1 snowfall amounting to 12 inches or more,
and is likely to experience 9.88 snowstorms each year. The greater Boston area (covering the
northern/central area of southeastern Massachusetts) has a 33% chance each year of having at least 1
snowfall amounting to 12 inches each year and is likely to experience 10.33 snowstorms annually.14
Middleborough is most accurately placed within the Boston area. While melting snow adds to flooding,
snowfall also presents a non-flooding hazard as access to critical facilities may be compromised by large
amounts of snowfall. Variations on this hazard are a snowstorm in combination with rain that produces a
very heavy wet snow or ice storms both of which weigh down trees and power lines.
As a community with the outlying area without access to the public water supply, the loss of power in
Middleborough results in many homeowners that lack a back-up generator being without running water.
In February of 2004, the American Meteorological Society initiated a rating scale for winter storms. The
Category 1- 5 Snowfall Impact Scale is intended to be used to assess damage rather than predict impacts.
Snowstorms are difficult to predict and small temperature fluctuations mean the difference between snow
and rain. The scale that includes by increasing intensity- notable, significant, major, crippling and
extreme storms- assesses the amount of snow, area affected, and population impacted.15
Table 18 – Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale
Category
Cat 1
Notable
Cat 2
Significant
Snow
Depth
4-10 inches
10+ inches
Area
Size of RI
Southern
New England
Population
10 million
10-20 million
Affected
(Source: American Meteorological Society)
Cat 3
Major
10-20
inches
1-3 times
NY State
Cat 4
Crippling
Cat 5
Extreme
10, 20, or 30
inches
20+ inches
Northeast
Northeast
20-40 million
50 million
60 million
13
Ibid.
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/climate/snow-climate.html
15
Allen, Diane. “Snow Watchers now rate the effects from 1-5.” The Boston Globe, March 17, 2004, p.B4.
14
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In summary, wind damage due to a variety of causes (hurricanes, Nor’easters, winter storms, tornadoes) is
considered to be high in Middleborough, and would affect a large geographic area and population base
thus having a Town Wide impact. The severity of the impacts on persons, property, and public
infrastructure can be expected to be extensive.
Wildfire
Wildfires are a natural part of the southeastern Massachusetts ecosystem. Fires keep the forest floor clean
of debris, encourage the growth of grasses that serve as wildlife feed, and ensure that trees have plenty of
room to grow. Natural fires, recurring in a cyclical manner, can recycle nutrients and create a diversity of
natural habitats. In these ways, wildfires that occur in isolated areas can be a positive force. Increasingly,
however, development is encroaching into isolated areas and wildfires present a danger to human life and
manmade facilities. Forest fires that were in remote areas are now forest fires in people’s backyards.
The dual issues of human suppression of forest fires and human encroachment into forest areas, has
increased the risks associated with wildfire. Portions of southeastern Massachusetts are classified as
“pine barrens”. These are areas where the vegetation is predominately pitch pine with an understory of
scrub oak and black huckleberry. Not only is this vegetation highly flammable, the ecosystem of the
pine-barrens relies on periodic fire to perpetuate the barrens.16
The dispersion of growth into rural and undeveloped areas described in the Profile Chapter is consistent
with the national phenomenon documented in discussions of the Wildlands/Urban Interface. The
Wildlands/Urban Interface is getting attention because as development (particularly low-density
residential development) pushes into flammable vegetative areas the threats of wildfires increase.
Table 19 - Vegetative Coverage in Southeastern Massachusetts
Vegetation Type
Acres
Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak
Northern Hardwood
Red Maple Dominant
Oak/Maple Birch
Open Meadow
Forested Wetlands
Mixed Hardwood Pine
Suburban Forest
Water Bodies/Beaches/No Vegetation
120,332.00
41,423.49
19,191.91
3,908.96
7,283.46
56,101.70
42,023.78
92,233.93
132,883.69
Percent
of
Total*
23 %
8%
4%
1%
1%
11 %
8%
18 %
26 %
The Middleborough map, Wildfire indicates vegetative coverage of the region that can be used to assess
flammability. Pitch pine/scrub oak vegetation is resiny and waxy, characteristics that make it the most
16
Barbour, Henry et al, “Our Irreplaceable Heritage: Protecting Biodiversity in Massachusetts” 1998, p.46-7(NHESP & MA
Audubon).
37
Draft 9/19/11
highly flammable vegetation in the region. The red areas on the Forest Vegetation Map are pitch
pine/Scrub oak vegetation. The Rocky Gutter Wildlife Management Area in southeast Middleborough is
an area of unbroken woodlands where pitch pine makes up a significant proportion of the overstory.
The types of injuries that wildfire can cause include: loss of life, loss of property, and environmental
damage. Fighting fires relies on having adequate access to the area and sufficient water
Drought
Drought is the main factor that determines the intensity of a wildfire season - the less moisture present in
trees and vegetation, the more likely they are to ignite and the hotter they will burn. Table 16 indicates
the amount of time it takes for vegetation to dry after rainfall, to reach its point of flammability.
Table 20 - Drying Hours to Reach Flammability
Size of Fuel
¼” diameter or less
¼ – 1” diameter
1 - 3” diameter
4 – 7” diameter
8” + diameter
Hours Post Rain to Reach
Flammability
1 hour
10 hours
100 hours
1,000 hours
10,000 hours
Source: MA Bureau of Fire Control.
Beyond its role as a factor leading to wildfire, drought also has impacts on public safety for all
firefighting activity, agricultural production, and economic vitality of large users such as golf courses or
industrial processes. According to the December 2001 Draft Massachusetts Drought Management Plan,
Massachusetts generally has enough precipitation to support the demands residents and businesses place
on water. Periods of drought are not unheard of though, with the 1960s and more recently 1999 – 2000
and 2002 being notable times of water stress in the southeastern region.17
Geologic Hazards
The hazards that present the least risk to southeastern Massachusetts are geologic hazards such as
earthquakes and landslides. The United States Geological Service (USGS) categories the region as one of
low risk for earthquakes, although small-scale earthquakes (under 3 on the Richter scale) are common in
the region. The Weston MA Observatory of Boston College tracks earthquake activity throughout New
England and reports that recent earthquakes in the vicinity of this region include an April 1996 3.5 Mn
magnitude in Swansea; a July 11, 2002, 3.0 Mn magnitude in Martha’s Vineyard; and a February 23,
2004 2.0 Mn magnitude in Dartmouth.
The Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) Zones are based on modeling data that indicates areas where there
is a 10% chance in the next fifty years of an earthquake exceeding the PGA for that zone. PGA is a
measurement that compares the shaking of the ground with the force of gravity. While the likelihood of a
powerful earthquake in the region is low, the actual risk is high because of how old the buildings are and
17
Working Draft: Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, p4, December 21, 2001.
38
Draft 9/19/11
because few structures have been built to withstand earthquakes. Critical infrastructure such as bridges
and dams would be vulnerable. Overall the likelihood of a geological hazard in the region is considered
to be possible but the type of event would be such that the impacts would be small and the severity
limited, because earthquakes in the area are typically very small.
Table 21 – Richter Scale
M= 1-3
M= 3-4
M= 5
M= 6
M= 7
M= 8
M=9
Recorded on local seismographs, but generally not
felt
Often felt, no damage
Felt widely, slight damage near epicenter
Damage to poorly constructed buildings and other
structures within 10's km
"Major" earthquake, causes serious damage up to
~100 km
"Great" earthquake, great destruction, loss of life
over several 100 km
Rare great earthquake, major damage over a large
region over 1000 km
Assessing Vulnerability
Table 22 - Middleborough’s Vulnerability Assessment
Hazards
Flood
Hurricanes /
Tropical storms
Severe Winter
Storms
Wildfire /
Drought
Earthquake
Landslide
Extreme Heat
Likelihood of
future
occurrence
(probability)
Severity
Geography
HIGH
EXTENSIVE
NEIGHBORHOOD
MEDIUM
EXTENSIVE
REGIONAL
HIGH
SERIOUS
REGIONAL
MEDIUM
SERIOUS
NEIGHBORHOOD
LOW
MINOR
REGIONAL
VERY LOW
MINOR
NEIGHBORHOOD
MEDIUM
MINOR
REGIONAL
Likelihood of future occurrence (probability)
Very low: Events that occur less frequently than once in 100 years (Less than 1% per year)
39
Draft 9/19/11
Low:
Events that occur from once in 50 years to once in 100 years (1% to 2% per year)
Medium: Events that occur from once in 5 years to once in 50 years (2% to 20% per year)
High:
Events that occur more frequently than once in 5 years (Greater than 20% per year)
Severity
Minor:
Limited and scattered property damage; limited damage to public infrastructure and
essential services not interrupted; limited injuries or fatalities.
Serious:
Scattered major property damage; some minor infrastructure damage; essential services are
briefly interrupted; some injuries and/or fatalities.
Extensive: Widespread major property damage; major public infrastructure damage (up to several
days for repairs); essential services are interrupted from several hours to several days;
many injuries and/or fatalities.
Catastrophic: Property and public infrastructure destroyed; essential services stopped; numerous
injuries and fatalities.
Geography (Area of Impact or extent of impact on any locality for a particular event)
Single Structure: Event would likely impact single structure
Neighborhood: Would impact a single neighborhood or partial community
Town wide:
Entire community impacted
Regional:
At least several communities many communities to a county impacted
40
Draft 9/19/11
Chapter Four: Existing and Ongoing Mitigation Activities
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participation
Participation in the NFIP is voluntary for communities and is based on an agreement between each
participating community and FEMA. The Town of Middleborough has been a participant in the NFIP
since 1981; the Community Identification number is 250275. Participating in the NFIP has three
basic aspects, which are discussed below.
Flood plain identification and mapping
Since NFIP participation requires community adoption of flood maps the Town/City of current
floodplain maps were adopted and became effective on 1983 and are currently being updated by
FEMA. Mapping flood hazards creates broad-based awareness of the flood hazards and provides the
data needed for our community to effectively administer floodplain management program. The flood
maps can be viewed by the public and are located in the Building, Planning and Conservation
departments located in the Town Hall Annex (Bank Building) at 20 Centre St. Maps can also be
accessed from FEMA’s website at http://msc.fema.gov/
Floodplain management
Floodplain management can be defined as a community program of corrective and preventative
measures for reducing flood damage. The program is lead by the Building Inspector, robber Whalen.
These measures take a variety of forms and generally include requirements for zoning, subdivision or
building, and special-purpose floodplain ordinances/bylaws. In Massachusetts a majority of the
required regulations are covered under state laws, which are enforced locally. Those regulations are
o Massachusetts State Building Code: 780 CMR 3107.0, "Flood Resistant Construction")
o Wetlands Protection Regulations: 310 CMR 10.00
o Inland Wetlands Restriction: 302 CMR 6.00
o Coastal Wetlands Restriction:302 CMR 4.00 (may only apply to certain communities)
o Minimum Requirements for Subsurface Disposal of Sanitary Sewage 310 CMR 15, Title 5
The Town’s Zoning By-law, Section XI Flood Plain District – Regulation of Flood Hazard Areas,
provides local floodplain management that enforces minimum floodplain management regulations on
new or improved structures located on land shown to be within the boundaries of the Special Hazard
Area (Zone A, Zones A1-A30) on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Floodway Maps. This section
of the By-law is currently being updated by the Town as part of the Zoning By-law Recodification
effort.
Insurance
Since, Middleborough participates in the NFIP property owners and renters residing anywhere in the
community (not only in a special flood hazard area) are able to purchase insurance as a protection
against flood losses.
Current Mitigation Actions
The following table lists mitigation actions by category that the Town of Middleborough presently has
in place.
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Draft 9/19/11
Table 23 - Middleborough’s Current Mitigation Actions
Category of
Protection
Measure
Description
Capital
Improvement
Planning/
Structural
Improvements
Area Covered
Effectiveness and/or
Enforcement
Improvements or Changes
Needed
Capital Improvement Planning
Committee in place. Prepares
CIP on an annual basis
covering a 5-year cycle.
Town-wide
Funding on an “as possible” basis.
New 5 year plan was adopted in
June 2011. FY ‘12 requests total
$2,034,408
The town struggles to fund CIP
items and maintain a sufficient
operating budget.
Local Wetlands Bylaw
Town-wide
Effective
To Be Adopted
Town-wide
Planning Board and Fire
Department consult to ensure site
plans and regulations are adequate
for emergency response purposes.
None
Town-wide
Residential lot must have adequate
upland area to protect floodplains
and wetlands by giving resident
enough useable land for building
and landscaping
None
Town-wide
Enforced.
None
Town-wide
Adequate.
Local roadways sufficient
width for fire response
equipment
Regulations/
Bylaws/Codes
Zoning for residential lots:
- Minimum 12,000 s.f. upland
area of specific geometry
-Minimum area 20,000,
60,000 or 80,000 s.f.
Subdivision Rules &
Regulations- underground
utilities required
Soil Conservation
Regulations- could prevent
sediment build up in
waterways from run-off from
sand and gravel operations.
42
Draft 9/19/11
Category of
Protection
Measure
Operations,
Administration,
and Enforcement
Area Covered
Enforcement
Needed
Tree Maintenance – Electric
Utilities
Town-wide within
and abutting street
right-of-way’s
Ongoing throughout year by
Middleborough G & E through
contract services in compliance
with State and Federal
requirements.
None
Tree Maintenance - DPW
Town-wide within
Public ROW
As needed basis, and as funding
allows
More funds
Description
Inter-department Emergency
Coordination through Local
Emergency Planning
Committee
Town-wide
Meets on as needed basis.
Needs to meet regularly, better
attendance by member
agencies, need to practice
disaster response actions
Disaster Warning System
Town-wide
Cable TV; siren system,
None
Maintenance of Drainage
Facilities
Town-wide
On an as needed basis, routine
annual program followed as
permitted within the Highway
Department workload.
None
Winter Road Clean-up
DPW
Snow removal, tree removal as
needed in response to storms.
None
Forest Management
Pratt Farm &
Stuart Morgan
Conservation
Areas and Weston
Forest
Forest Management and/or
Stewardship Plans in place with
selective cutting conducted in
accordance therewith.
None
43
Draft 9/19/11
Category of
Protection
Measure
Planning
Area Covered
Enforcement
Needed
Comprehensive Emergency
Management Plan (CEMP)
Town-wide
Addresses disaster mitigation,
preparedness, response and
recovery
Maintain compliance of all
plans and update consistently.
Practice drills to be initiated for
plan testing & implementation.
Master Plan Findings and
Alternatives Report - 2002
Town-wide
No mention of disaster mitigation
Include if updated
Community Development
Plan - 2004
Town-wide
Include in update
Draft Open Space Plan –draft
2008
Town-wide
Include in update
Regular Training run on
nuclear evacuation; hazardous
materials, etc.
Town-wide
Effective
None
NIMS Training &
Certification
Specified Town
Staff positions and
public officials
Ongoing
Emergency Management
Institute Training
Specified Town
Staff positions
Ongoing
Wide range of materials
available at town hall on
preparedness.
Town-wide
Adequate
Description
Education &
Training
44
Should prepare plan identifying
persons to be trained, type of
training, and completion of
training.
Should prepare plan identifying
persons to be trained, type of
training, and completion of
training.
Try to widen distribution –
consider mailing with tax bill or
utility bill.
Draft 9/19/11
Chapter Five: Mitigation Actions Town of Middleborough
The goals of the town are to identify and catalogue all potential hazards that the Town of Middleborough is vulnerable to by compiling
information from various studies and reports and direct knowledge of staff, departments and stakeholders within the Town. Determine
mitigation measures available to reduce the threat of known hazards and compile in one location and prioritize for funding and
scheduling purposes. Specify responsible parties, identify potential funding sources and monitor implementation.
Proposed Mitigation Actions and Implementation
The following table represents recommended mitigation actions. Some of these activities will require grant funding; others will
require the cooperation of other agencies. The Town of Middleborough will make a good faith effort to implement these actions
within the constraints of the local budget, staff resources, and new demands from state and federal agencies.
Table 23 - PROPOSED MITIGATION ACTIONS: TOWN OF MIDDLEBOROUGH
Action
Priority
(1) Woloski Park Repetitive
Flooding
Alternative # 1 - Acquire
residential properties and
raze structures
Responsible
Parties
Town, The
Nature
Conservancy,
MA. DF&W
Timeline
Resources Needed
Benefit of Action Item
2011
HMGP
Grant Cycle
3 years to
complete
project
Pending HMGP
application,
approximately $1.2
million total to
purchase and raze all
11 homes
Permanently resolves
repetitive flooding and access
problems for all flood events.
Adds protected open space to
Wild and Scenic River
Corridor and additional land
to DF&W current holding.
45
2011
Plan
Change
Added
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Alternative #2 - Elevate
access road
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
DPW
Ongoing
request until
funded.
Pursue HMGP
funding in
combination with
Chapter 90 monies –
total cost estimated
at $250,000
Corrective measure to
mitigate existing flooding up
to the 10 year flood event that
annually prevents vehicular
and emergency access and
necessitates significant repair
each spring.
Fire Dept
Submit as
needed until
funded.
Pursue grant funding Middleborough is a rural
or CIP funding as
community without a water
budgeting allows
supply in outlying areas and
with a high wildfire risk. Dry
hydrants provide additional
water supply facilities for
fighting fires. Town-wide but
in particular high-risk areas
near Rocky gutter
Requires new box culverts
and raises roadway bed
above 10 year flood
elevation for a distance of
700 feet.
(2) Construct “dry-hydrants”
to assist wildfire fighting.
(3) Equip fire vehicles with
GPS.
Fire
Department
with
Emergency
Mgt.
Ongoing
request until
funded.
Pursue grant funding Assist with monitoring
for equipment.
vegetation and responding to
wildfire threats. Global
Positioning System (GPS)
would permit better
coordination and tracking of
conditions
46
2011
Plan
Change
Updated
This has
not been
the
Town’s
policy
for
several
years!
Lance??
Status??
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
(4) Amend Floodplain
Zoning to conform to
MEMA recommendations.
Planning
Board/Bldg
Commissioner/
Town Meeting
Spring 2012
Town
Meeting
Ongoing - part of
Zoning
Recodification Task
force effort
Needed for consistency with
NFIP regulations
(5) Comprehensive Plan- No
mention of natural hazard
mitigation. At next re-write
add cross-references to this
plan.
Planning Board
At re-write
Part of the process.
Maintains Plan Consistency
Updated
(6) Open Space Plan- Prior to
finalization of draft add
cross-references to this
plan.
Conservation
commission
At re-write
2012
Maintains Plan Consistency
Updated
(7) Update Natural Hazard
Mitigation Plan on a
regular 5 year cycle –
coordinate with CEMP
update and Open Space
update.
Emergency
Mgt Director
Ongoing
Limited amount of
work – if looks to be
excessive can apply
to MEMA for
funding.
Maintains Plan Relevancy and Updated
Consistency.
(8) Implementation of
Hazard Mitigation Plan
Monitor and advocate for
implementation
LEPC
Ongoing
Part of the process
Ensures implementation will
occur.
47
2011
Plan
Change
Updated
Added
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
(9) Expand Hazard
Mitigation education
efforts; utilize a targeted
mailing. Work with
neighboring communities
to develop appropriate
materials; pursue joint
application for funds to
prepare & update materials.
(10) Relocate 2nd EOC from
Police Station to North
Middleborough Fire Station
Responsible
Parties
LEPC
Timeline
Within next
5 years
Emergency
Mgt Director
(11) Inventory all Dams in
Middleborough; develop
GIS map and database of
location, dimensions,
ownership, etc.
Planning &
Conservation
Departments
Within next
5 years
(12) Conduct Comprehensive
Hydrogeologic/Hydraulic
Study of the Assawompsett
Pond Complex, including
the Nemasket and Taunton
Rivers
MA. DEP,
As soon as
Towns & Cities funding is
hosting or
available
using Ponds
including
Middleborough
.
Resources Needed
Pursue grant funds
in a regional
application.
Easily informs public of
necessary actions to prepare
for and prevent natural
hazards.
Equipment and
Current location directly
supplies necessary to adjacent to primary EOC at
support EOC
Central Fire Station. North
Middleborough Fire Station is
in a totally separate location
Town staff &
Knowledge of dam locations
consultants if needed to be monitored during
extreme flooding events. Predisaster understanding of
threat level, regulatory
compliance including
maintenance and reporting,
etc.
Approximately
Will provide predictable and
$500,000
scientific basis for managing
pond complex/river system
including the development of
specific mitigation tasks to
prevent future catastrophic
flooding.
48
2011
Plan
Change
Updated
Added
Added
Added
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
(13) Pratt Farm Dams
Stony Brook Pond Dam:
Responsible
Parties
Conservation
Commission
a. Register Dam w/ODS
b. Hydraulic/Hydrogeologic
Analysis
c. Slope Stability Analysis
d. Develop O&M Plan
e. Develop Monitoring
Program
f. Regularly inspect and
maintain Dam
g. Clear debris from
sluiceway
h. Remove sandbags, fill
eroded areas
i. Remove 36”+ dia. trees
j. Repair undermining of
spillway wingwalls
k. Repair scoured sections of
spillway
l. Clear embankments of
unwanted vegetation
m. Construct new spillway
n. Regrade Dam
o. Upstream slope protection
p. Loam & seed
q. Install low level outlet
(14) Evaluation and
registration of Shingle Mill
Pond Dam
Timeline
When
funding
available
Resources Needed
Approximately
$500,000 - $800,000
Water
Department
The current condition of the
Stony Brook Pond Dam is
Poor.
Will determine threat level of
dam and recommend
appropriate mitigation
49
2011
Plan
Change
Added
Added
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
(15) Marion Road Cranberry
Bog Reservoir Dam.
Coordinate with Office of
Dam Safety on regulatory
requirements, including
reporting, maintenance and
repair
(16) Wastewater Treatment
Plant Power Supply –
Upgrade 110 volt service;
provide emergency power
generation capacity
(17) Wastewater Treatment
Plant Standard Operating
Procedures during
Catastrophic Flooding –
document procedures that
were successfully employed
in 2010 for future reference.
ID and recommend plant
changes to improve
conditions in future
(18) Wastewater Pump
Station Emergency Power
Supply – Add emergency
power generation capacity at
Lane St and
pump station
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
As soon as
possible
Will provide impetus for dam
permit renewal and construct
necessary safety upgrades.
2011
Plan
Change
Added
Wastewater
Dept.
Added
Wastewater
Dept.
Added
Wastewater
Dept.
Lane St October 3,
2011 town
Meeting
Added
50
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
(19) East Main Street Pump
Station Upgrade to prevent
flooding and necessity of
manually pumping sewage
Wastewater
Dept.
(20) GIS Implementation For
Town-wide use and develop
proficiency of Town staff
IT and
Planning
Department
(21) GIS Data layer
development - for
topography and utilities
IT and
Planning
Department
Timeline
Resources Needed
Ongoing
through
negotiations
with local
developer
Ongoing
Ability to utilize GIS to plan
for hazard mitigation,
response and recovery.
Produce large maps for EOC.
Develop evacuation maps
showing topography and
accurate location of utilities
for emergency response
including for wildfires.
2011
Plan
Change
Added
Added
Added
The following mitigation measures are set forth in Middleborough’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP)
Drought:
1. Balance demand on
Planning Board
water supply through
land use, zoning and
other tools.
2. Encourage water
Water Dept.
conservation and water
control measures to ease
demand on water supply.
3. Improves efficiency and
Water Dept.
capacity of the water
supply system, including
leak detection and repair.
51
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
2011
Plan
Change
Earthquake:
1. Obtain local geological
information; identify/
assess structures and land
areas especially
vulnerable to earthquake
impact and define
methods to minimize the
risk.
2. Strictly adhere to land use
and earthquake resistant
building codes for all new
construction.
3. Make periodic evaluation,
repair, and/or
improvements to older
public structures
4. Develop and disseminate
emergency earthquake
public information and
instructions.
5. Hold earthquake drills in
schools, businesses,
special care facilities, and
other public gathering
places.
52
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
2011
Plan
Change
Flood:
1. Identify flood prone areas
in the community and
define methods to
minimize the risk. Review
National Flood Insurance
Maps.
2. Disseminate emergency
public information and
instructions concerning
flood preparedness and
safety.
3. Community leaders
should ensure that their
community is enrolled in
the National Flood
Insurance Program.
4. Strictly adhere to land use
and building codes (e.g.
Wetlands Protection Act).
New construction should
not be built in flood-prone
areas.
5. Ensure that flood control
works are in good
operating condition at all
times.
6. Preserve natural water
storage areas.
53
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
2011
Plan
Change
7. Maintain plans for
managing all flood
emergency response
activities including
addressing potentially
hazardous dams.
Hurricane (Also see Flood above)
emergency public
information and
hurricane preparedness
and safety.
2. Develop and enforce local
building codes to enhance
structural resistance to
high winds and flooding.
Build new construction in
areas that are not
vulnerable to direct
hurricane effects.
managing all hurricane
emergency response
activities.
54
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
2011
Plan
Change
Tornado:
emergency public
information and
tornado safety; guidance
regarding in-home
protection, evacuation
procedures and locations
of public shelters.
2. Strictly adhere to building
code regulations for all
new construction.
3. Maintain plans for tornado
response activities. Refer
to non-institutionalized,
special needs and
transportation resources
listed in the CEMP
Resource Manual (Core
Functions, and Vulnerable
Populations and Areas).
55
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
2011
Plan
Change
Fire:
1. Promote fire safety
measures such as fire-safe
landscaping and
construction practices to
the public and business
communities.
2. Restrict outside burning
etc. based on moisture
levels, fuels supply
conditions such as
drought.
3. Identify high vulnerability
or problem areas.
56
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Winter Storms:
emergency public
information concerning
winter storms, especially
material which instructs
individuals and families
how to stock their homes,
prepare their vehicles, and
take care of themselves
during a severe winter
storm.
2. Local governments should
assume that winter will
occur annually and budget
fiscal resources with snow
management in mind.
managing all winter storm
emergency response
activities.
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
Health DEPT
& MRC
57
2011
Plan
Change
Added
Draft 9/19/11
Action
Priority
Responsible
Parties
Timeline
Resources Needed
Dam Failure:
1. Develop and conduct
public education programs
concerning dam hazards.
2. Maintain up-to-date plans
to deal with threat and
actual occurrence of dam
over-spill or failure.
3. Local officials should
familiarize themselves
with technical data and
information pertinent to
local dams. This should
include determining the
probable extent and
seriousness of the effect to
downstream areas.
4. Dams should be inspected
periodically and
monitored regularly.
5. Repairs should be
attended to promptly.
6. Lessen burdens on faulty
dams through stream rechanneling if possible.
7. Identify dam owners.
8. Determine minimum
notification time for down
stream areas.
58
2011
Plan
Change
Added
Draft 9/19/11
Chapter 6: Maintenance and Implementation
Monitoring, evaluating and updating the hazard mitigation plan are important steps in creating an
effective plan.
A scheduled annual review of the plan by the hazard mitigation team will be conducted at one of
the monthly Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) department meetings. At that time,
the hazard mitigation team will review the hazard mitigation measures that have been
implemented to that date and determine if these measures have impacted the overall hazard. This
review will include site visits to appropriate locations where these measures have been
implemented. Mitigation measures that have not been implemented will be reviewed to
determine if they will still minimize natural hazards or if they are no longer a viable option.
Additionally the hazard mitigation team will determine any new options to include in an update
of the plan.
Evaluation of the hazard mitigation plan in its entirety will be done on a 5-year basis in
accordance to the Disaster Mitigation act of 2000 or any significant natural hazard disaster. Any
new problems that arise will be reviewed be the hazard mitigation team and incorporated in to
the hazard mitigation plan. The plan will be updated with possible new mitigation measures and
plans of action as determined from the review. This allows for updates to be made as
Middleborough grows and changes. The Planning Department will oversee the hazard
mitigation team’s involvement in the review and updating process.
Members of the Hazard Mitigation Team will incorporate and consider elements from this
Hazard Mitigation Plan and its process, when appropriate.
The public will have opportunities to submit feedback and solicit comments from the Town
regarding the plan and projects. The residents and businesses shall be notified when hazard
mitigation issues are brought to the Board of Selectmen. This will be done using the local paper,
the Town’s website www.middleborough.com, the Town Clerk’s bulletin board, etc.
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Existing Reports and Documents:
Community Development Plan, by Larry Koff & Associates, 2004
Housing Production Plan, by Larry Koff & Associates, 2011
Comprehensive Plan, Findings and Alternatives Report, by the Cecil Group, 2002
Draft Open Space Plan, By Nover Armstrong Associates, 2008
Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan 2011, Town of Middleborough
2004 Hazard Mitigation Plan, Town of Middleborough
Stony Brook Pond Dam’ Phase I, Inspection and Evaluation Report, by Pare Corporation, dated
March 22, 2011.
Department of Environmental Management, Office of Dam Safety, Municipally Owned Dam,
Inspection/Evaluation Report, 1998
Pratt Farm Conservation Area, Forest Management Plan, by Philip B. Benjamin CF, 6/16/11
Stuart Morgan Conservation Area, Forest Management Plan, by Philip B. Benjamin CF, 6/16/11
Weston Memorial Forest, Forest Management Plan, by Philip B. Benjamin CF, 1/29/10
Town of Middleborough 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan, dated June 6, 2011
Town of Middleborough Building Permits by Month 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2010 by Middleborough
Building Department
US Census Bureau, American FactFinder, Town of Middleborough Plymouth county Census
2000 Demographic Profile and Disability Status of Non-institutional Population
http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=y&-state=qt&-context=qt&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP2&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-tree_id=403&redoLog=true&-all_geo_types=N&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=06000US2502340850&search_results=16000US2540885&-format=&-_lang=en
US Census Bureau, American FactFinder, Town of Middleborough Plymouth County Census
2010 Demographic Profile
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_
DPDP1&prodType=table
SRPEDD’s “Census 2010 Releases, Regional Data, Data By Community, American Community
Survey Estimates, 2005 – 2009, Regional Profiles, Profiles by Municipality.
http://www.srpedd.org/data.asp
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“Census 2010 Trends at a Glance” 2011 SRPEDD Annual Report
http://www.srpedd.org/news_reports.asp
MAPC 2010 US Census Redistricting Data by Municipality
http://www.mapc.org/data-services/census
SRPEDD Region Population Growth and Projections 1960 – 2030
http://www.srpedd.org/Factbook2009.asp
“Hurricane Evacuation Route Evaluation, Final Report” September 2006, Southern
Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization & SRPEDD.
http://www.srpedd.org/transportation.asp
2011 Public Emergency Information Calendar, Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant.
http://www.plymouth-ma.gov/Public_Documents/PlymouthMA_EmManage/index
In the Event of an Emergency at Pilgrim Station, Evacuation Where do I go? Entergy Website
http://www.pilgrimpower.com/in-case-of-emergency.html
SRPEDD Community Quickstats, Middleborough http://www.srpedd.org/srpeddquickstats.asp
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