CAPABILITY ASSESSMENT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
I. INTRODUCTION
II. STATE GOVERNMENT CAPABILITY
NORTH CAROLINA STATE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
The Judicial Branch
The Legislative Branch
The Executive Branch
NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Governor’s Policy Office
NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service
Governor’s Legislative Office
Governor’s Office for Intergovernmental Relations
Governor’s Communication Office
Citizen and Community Service Office
The Office of State Budget and Management
Capital Improvement Planning Act
NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
NC National Guard
State Highway Patrol
NC Civil Air Patrol
State Emergency Response Commission (SERC)
State Emergency Response Team (SERT)
Emergency Management Division
Organization of the Division
NCDEM Branch and Area Offices
NCDEM Responsibilities
The Stafford Act/Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
Mitigation Planning Under DMA 2000 and SB 300
The State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group (SHMAG): Developing the State Hazard Mitigation Plan
Natural Hazards Advisory Panel
NC Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement
Working with Local Governments
Promoting Hazards Awareness and Research
State and Federal Support for the Division of Emergency Management
NC Division of Emergency Management, Hazard Mitigation Branch
The Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative
Coordination of Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Programs
Local Plan Review
North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, Geospatial and Technology Management Section, Floodplain Mapping Program
Community Rating System
North Carolina Division of Emergency Management, Homeland Security Planning Section
Homeland Security Planning Section NC State Homeland Security Strategy
Homeland Security Planning Section NC Emergency Operations Plan
Local Emergency Operations Plans
Homeland Security Planning Section NC Hazardous Materials Program
NC Division of Emergency Management, Operations Section
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
DOI Support for the NFIP
Office of the State Fire Marshal
Office of the State Fire Marshal, Engineering Division
North Carolina State Building Code
Building Code Administration at the Local Level
Office of the State Fire Marshal, Manufactured Building Division
Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire and Rescue Commission Division
Office of the State Fire Marshal, Program Development, Prevention and Grants Division
Office of the State Fire Marshal, Fire and Rescue Training and Inspection Division
NC DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Environmental Management Commission
Division of Water Quality
Division of Water Quality, NC Wetlands Restoration Program
Local Watershed Planning Initiative
NC Ecosystem Enhancement Program (EEP)
Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section
Water Quality Section, Stormwater Unit
Division of Water Quality, Groundwater Section
Division of Water Quality, Basinwide Water Quality Planning
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council
Division of Water Resources River Basin Water Supply Planning
Division of Water Resources, Water Allocation Section
Division of Water Resources, Water Supply Planning Section
Division of Water Resources, Public Water Supply Section
Division of Water Resources, On-Site Wastewater Section
Division of Waste Management
Division of Waste Management, Solid Waste Section
Division of Waste Management, Underground Storage Tank Section
Division of Waste Management, Hazardous Waste Section
Division of Waste Management, Superfund Section
Division of Parks and Recreation
State Parks Land Acquisition Program
Natural and Scenic Rivers System
Division of Coastal Management
Coastal Resources Commission/Coastal Resources Advisory Committee
Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA)
CAMA Coastal Counties
CAMA Land-Use Planning
Areas of Environmental Concern
CAMA Permits
Shoreline Erosion Rates
Oceanfront Erosion Response
Post-Storm Reconstruction
Maps and Data
Wetlands Protection
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources Land Quality Section
Dam Safety Program
Erosion and Sedimentation Program
Sedimentation Control Commission
Mining Program
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources NC Geological Survey
NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund
Clean Water Management Trust Fund
Swine Operation Grant
Stormwater Management Grants
Riparian Buffer, Floodplain and Wetlands Grants
Barrier Island Grants
Wildlife Grants
Stream Restoration
CWMTF: Water Quality and Flood Mitigation
Million Acre Initiative
NC Conservation Tax Credit Program
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
NCDOT Office of the Secretary
NCDOT Public Information Office
NCDOT Planning and Environmental Division
Planning and Environmental Division, Project Development and Analysis Branch
Project Development Unit
Office of Natural Environment
Office of Human Environment
Planning and Environmental Division, Program Development Branch
Transportation Improvement Plan Unit
Enhancement Unit
Planning and Environmental Division, Transportation Planning Branch
GIS Unit
Traffic Survey Unit
Transportation Planning Unit
NCDOT Division of Highways
Traffic Evacuation Management Plan for Interstate 40
Highway NC 12
NCDOT Division of Highways, Construction and Materials Branch, Roadside Environmental Unit
NCDOT Division of Highways, Highway Design Branch, Hydraulics Unit
NCDOT Division of Highways, Highway Design Branch, Geotechnical Engineering Unit
NCDOT Division of Highways, Highway Operations, State Road Maintenance Unit
North Carolina Correction Enterprises
Permanent Housing Initiative
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
State Infrastructure Council
State Economic Development Board
NC Board of Science and Technology
The Oregon Inlet Project
Public Staff of the Utilities Commission
Rural Electrification Authority
State Ports Authority
Business and Industry Division
Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development
Tourism Grant Programs
Hurricane Evacuation of Coastal Counties
Policy, Research and Strategic Planning Office
Division of Community Assistance
Division of Community Assistance Main Street Program
Division of Community Assistance Community Planning Program
Division of Community Assistance CDBG Program
Division of Community Assistance State Development Zones Program
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Division of Public Health
Division of Public Health Epidemiology Branch
Division of Public Health Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response
Division of Public Health Communicable Disease Control Branch
Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
Disaster Preparedness Program
Hope After Program
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Emergency Programs Division
Public Affairs Division
Standards Division
Aquaculture and Natural Resources Division
Agronomic Services Division
Veterinary Division
North Carolina State Animal Response Team
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION
NC State Environmental Review Clearinghouse
Office of State Property
State Building Commission
State Construction Office
Executive Order 123, the “Uniform Floodplain Management Policy”
NORTH CAROLINA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY
NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION
STATE CLIMATE OFFICE OF NORTH CAROLINA
NC ECONet
NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
The Institute of Government
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington
UNCW Center for Marine Science
North Carolina State University
State Climate Office
Water Resources Research Institute of UNC
Western Carolina University
East Carolina University
North Carolina Sea Grant
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
NORTH CAROLINA REAL ESTATE COMMISSION
NC Residential Property Disclosure Law
III. LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAPABILITY
INTRODUCTION
Each Community Is Unique
Fiscal Capability
Technical and Technological Capability
Technical Capability
Technological Capability
Local Government Structure
North Carolina Municipalities
How Municipalities Are Created
Governing Cities and Towns
The City Manager
North Carolina Counties
Diverse North Carolina Counties
Counties Respond to Population Change
New Residents, New Jobs
Needs of Counties That Have Not Grown
Governing North Carolina Counties
The County Manager
STATE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
NC Floodplain Mapping Program
Hazard Data Made Available to Local Governments
Prioritizing Local Assistance
LOCAL GOVERNMENT POWERS
Regulatory Powers
General Police Power
Annexation
Building Code Enforcement and Building Inspection
Land Use Regulations
Zoning
Flood Hazard Regulation
Subdivision Regulation
Stormwater Management
Acquisition
Taxation and Other Revenue Generation
Taxation
Property Tax
Land Transfer Tax
Occupancy Taxes
Gas Tax (Powell Bill)
User Fees
Special Assessments
Impact Fees
Spending and Services
Local Government Services
Public Schools
Emergency Management Services
Capital Improvement Programming
Economic Development
Planning
Types of Local Plans
Land Use/Comprehensive Plans
Hazard Mitigation Plans
Planning Workshops and Guidances
The Planning Process
Planning Criteria
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Community Rating System (CRS)
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
North Carolina Association of County Commissioners
North Carolina League of Municipalities
North Carolina Emergency Management Association
North Carolina Chapter of the American Planning Association
Regional Councils of Government (COGs)
IV. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CAPABILITY
THE BLUE SKY FOUNDATION
Executive Order No. 25: North Carolina Showcase State Partnership for Natural Disaster Resistance and Resilience
AMERICAN RED CROSS
AMERICORPS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE CORPS (NPRC)
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF FLOODPLAIN MANAGERS
NORTH CAROLINA SMART GROWTH ALLIANCE
NORTH CAROLINA VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS ACTIVE IN DISASTER (NC VOAD)
INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS AND HOME SAFETY (IBHS)
“Fortified…for safer Living”
Showcase States
NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION (NCAPA)
NORTH CAROLINA RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTER
Agricultural Advancement Consortium
Water and Sewer Initiative
e-NC (Rural Internet Access Authority)
NON-PROFIT LAND TRUSTS, CONSERVANCIES, AND PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS
The Nature Conservancy
Conservation Trust of North Carolina
Land Trust Alliance
V. BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY CAPABILITY
STATE INITIATIVES TO ENHANCE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY RESILIENCY
Sustainable Business
Small Business Initiative
Sustainable Agri-Business
THE CONTINGENCY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF THE CAROLINAS (CPAC)
NORTH CAROLINA RATE BUREAU
NC INSURANCE UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION: THE NC BEACH PLAN
CAROLINA CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION
HOME IMPROVEMENT WAREHOUSE HURRICANE AWARENESS FAIRS
NC MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE
NC HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
VI. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAPABILITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
Robert T. Stafford Act
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
Please note that HMGP 7% set-asides can fund single, multi-jurisdictional, or regional hazard mitigationplans.
Public Assistance Program
Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG)
Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
Section 322
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Community Rating System (CRS)
US Fire Administration
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance Program
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Floodplain Management Services Program
Beach Nourishment Programs
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
United States Forest Service
Fire Management Program
Forest Health Protection Unit
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Water Resources: River Basin Program
Watershed Surveys and Planning
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
Clean Water Act
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
National Weather Service
Coastal Services Center
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Coastal Barrier Resources Act
VII. FUNDING SOURCES FOR MITIGATION
A WEALTH OF FUNDING POSSIBILITIES
RESOURCES FOR EXPLORING MITIGATION FUNDING
FEDERAL SOURCES OF MITIGATION FUNDS
Funding Available from FEMA
The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (FMA)
(Current Funding Source still valid as of June 2013 )
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
The Public Assistance Program
The Repetitive Flood Claims Program
The Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Program
Earthquake Consortium Grant
Funding Available from the Environmental Protection Agency (Potential)
Clean Water Act Section 319 Grants
Clean Water State Revolving Funds
Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
Wetlands Protection - Development Grants
Funding Available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Potential)
Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration
Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material
Floodplain Management Services
Nonstructural Alternatives to Structural Rehabilitation of Damaged Flood Control Works
Planning Assistance to States
Beach Erosion Control Projects
Funding Available from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Potential)
Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP)
Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program
Funding Available from the US Farm Service Agency (Potential)
Emergency Loans for Farming Operations
Emergency Haying and Grazing Assistance/ Livestock Feed Programs
Emergency Conservation Program
Farm Operating Loans/Farm Ownership Loans
Crop Insurance: Catastrophic Risk Protection Coverage
Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Programs
Soil and Water Loans
Funding Available from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (Potential)
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Communities Program
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) State Administered Program
HOME Investment Partnership Program
Public Housing Modernization Reserve for Disasters and Emergencies
Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program
Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance for Disaster Victims Section 203(h)
STATE SOURCES OF MITIGATION FUNDS
NC Natural Heritage Trust Fund (Potential)
Clean Water Management Trust Fund (Potential)
North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (Potential)
LOCAL SOURCES OF MITIGATION FUNDS
Local sources of funding are distinct for each jurisdiction within the state. While some local jurisdictions have money set aside specifically for mitigation activities, others never utilize local funds for mitigation. Currently, most jurisdictions rely almost entirely on state and federal dollars, but potentially, local jurisdictions could use taxes or bonds to raise funds for mitigation.
PRIVATE SOURCES OF MITIGATION FUNDS
VIII. LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR HAZARD MITIGATION
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES
Statutes
Executive Orders
Federal Emergency Management Agency Regulations, 44 CFR
STATE AUTHORITIES
North Carolina General Statutes
Executive Orders
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Capabilities of various Federal, State, Local, public and private organizations in the state North Carolina have been incorporated into the capability assessment of the state hazard mitigation Plan for the 2013update. While the content is generally the same, we have made structural changes in this section to display relational changes that have occurred in state government up to 2013 update cycle. NCEM staff polled every agency and organization identified in the capabilities section of the 322 plan and asked for concurrence on the information shown, or suggestions for changes. The bulk of the agencies reported no change in capacity or policy since the last plan update.
The state’s mitigation goal has not changed since the last update of this plan.Hazard Mitigation Staff, assisted by input from SHMAG team members and various other stake holders, have reviewed our strategies and actions for success and have incorporated new actions we feel will produce a comprehensive approach to mitigation. During the course of 3 State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group (SHMAG) meetings held in 2011, 2012 and 2013, The State Hazard Mitigation Officer led discussions on natural hazards, risks and impacts in North Carolina, and consensus opinion among the subject matter experts is that flooding continues to be both the most wide-spread hazard and the hazard for which we have both pre-disaster and post disaster polices, programs and capabilities to address. While flooding has been foremost in our efforts, NC has also made strides in earthquake mitigation through a coordinated effort to engage local governments in the earthquake prone areas of the state in projects involving non-structural earthquake mitigation measures for critical public facilities. NCEM is partnering with associates in the State Geologist’s Office and the Department of Education to deliver a series of earthquake education seminars to public school science teachers in the fall of 2013. Other notable collaboration and capacity building between NCEM and partners includes work with HUD, the EPA and local and county partners and citizens in New Bern NC on the development of green infrastructure to address flooding concerns in various parts of New Bern. NCEM collaborated with the State Department of Health and Human Services to develop a cooling center plan to address the needs of the elderly and other fragile populations in the event of excessive heat days. Working with county and local governments on identification of mitigation opportunities and development of cost-effective mitigation approaches regardless of funding is the daily work of the NCEM Hazard Mitigation Branch.
Specific funding decisions are made during project solicitation based on impacts of recent disasters for the HMGP funding source, and are based on programmatic requirements for non-disaster funding sources with an eye toward optimizing access to available funds. Generally speaking, NCEM prioritizes projects that address primary residential structures and critical public facilities, but also addresses commercial and secondary-occupancy structures when there is sufficient local interest. Generally, the state will not pick up the non-federal match on projects involving secondary or resort-rental structures, but supports such projects when other matching funds are presented. Twice in the last 15 years, (1999 and 2005) the NC State Legislature made 100% state funds available for mitigation projects following impacts of Hurricanes Floyd, Frances and Ivan.
A change in the state’s leadership following the 2012 elections has not resulted to date in any major changes in the administration of the state’s pre or post-hazard mitigation programs and efforts. The state continues to make match funds available for the HMGP program and continues to support the development and implementation of plans and projects (without covering the non-federal match) for the non-disaster PDM and FMA programs.