Jefferson County - East-West Gateway Coordinating Council

2
Jefferson County – Section 3
new structures and requires an increase, if necessary, to that elevation when
structures are significantly reconstructed within the floodplain. Minimum elevation
is one foot above for structures in the identified regional floodplains.
• The county has participated in floodplain property acquisition, funded through
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Program.
• Stormwater management and sedimentation and erosion control standards that
comply with Phase II Federal Stormwater Regulations are in the process of being
adopted, with implementation expected in the summer of 2004.
• Development is prohibited in identified floodways and wetlands.
• Development can occur on slopes steeper than 3 feet to one foot only after
geotechnical analysis and receipt of an engineer’s recommendation.
• The county is able to receive NWS warnings; equipment is radio-activated. During
waking hours, using all available communications, less than 50 percent of the
county’s population could be alerted within 30 minutes; responders and key
executive officials could be alerted within 5 minutes.
• The Emergency Management Agency’s director and key personnel have completed
substantial training in all facets of emergency management. Emergency response
personnel, EOC operations staff, and volunteer agencies have received training and
education within the last five years.
Jefferson County is located in a Modified Mercalli Zone VII area. Missouri statutes require
school districts in a Modified Mercalli Zone VII or above at a magnitude 7.6 earthquake to
provide for public view each year, an earthquake preparedness and safety information,
such as earthquake procedures and a disaster plan; and conduct earthquake drills twice
each year. Missouri statutes RSMo 260.451, 160.453, 160.455, and 160.457 provide that
“the governing body of each school district shall request assistance from the State
Emergency Management Agency and any local emergency management agency located
within its district boundaries to develop and establish the earthquake emergency procedure
system.”
The questionnaire asked responders to summarize their regulations effectiveness in
reducing potential losses from hazards and the effectiveness of their measures to increase
public awareness of measures to reduce potential losses from hazards. The questions were
answered on a scale of “O” to “4”, with “0” being not effective and “4” being very
effective. In answer to the question: How effective would you rate the regulations
employed by your local government to reduce potential losses from hazards, one
municipality answered “1”, three answered “2”, and one answered “3”. In response to the
question: How effective would you rate the measures employed by your local government
to increase public awareness of measures that can be used to reduce potential losses to
existing development in areas subject to hazards, two municipalities answered “2”, and
three answered “3”.