FLOOD06186

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: North Carolina Mitigation Strategy Report
• Date: 2/1/1997
• Prepared For: North Carolina
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

Mitigation Strategy Report
FEMA-1134-DR-NC

State of North Carolina
Division of Emergency Management

should be undertaken in accordance with sound watershed planning. This should include the denial of
further LPP systems in the Falls Lake and Swift Creek watersheds. Throughout the State, the installation
of pipes in hazardous locations should be avoided whenever possible. Trees may be removed, as
necessary, to prevent damage to pipes when they are uprooted during high winds or ice storms.
Alternatives to LPP systems should be evaluated by the State and local governments to determine
more appropriate waste water treatment options.

. Electrical Transmission & Distribution Lines

The damage to electrical transmission and distribution lines from high winds caused both direct and
indirect damages, Poles and lines were damaged by wind loads and falling vegetation. In some cases,
the inadequate maintenance of the right-of-way contributed to this condition, Some power companies
had allowed smaller trees to grow in the right-of-way and had neglected to trim major tree branches.
Shallow rooted hardwoods were easily uprooted by high velocity winds, which damaged or completely
destroyed many underground utilities, Secondary damages to households, businesses, and emergency
operation centers occurred from the loss of power. One measure
communities may want to consider is the purchase of generators to provide a backup power source
for public health and safety facilities.

Fi~ure 8: Damaged Transmission Lines

Landscaping
standards,
including the
planting of
appropriate
vegetation along
poweriine rights-
of-way, should be
encouraged.
Pubiic utilities
should improve
existing programs
to inspect all
rights-of-way.
Maintenance,
such as brush and
limb removal,
should be
addressed on a
routine basis.
Current rights-of-
way should also
be inspected as to proper size. it may be appropriate in some cases to purchase or lease additional
rights-of-way to help eliminate the potential damage to lines and poles from fallen limbs or trees. As
new or replacement distribution power lines are scheduled for installation, the providers should
investigate the cost effectiveness, safety benefits, and environmental impact of burying these lines,

.

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. Fallen Timber

Timber losses from Hurricane Fran were extensive. According to the North Carolina Division of Forest
Resources, an estimated 8.2 million acres of woodland were damaged. In some coastal areas, 85% of
all trees sustained some type of damage. In the Raleigh-Durham area, the figure exceeded 50%.
Among coastal counties, New Hanover and Pender County were hit the hardest. In Pender county
alone, timber losses exceeded 89 million dollars.

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