Orestimba Creek Feasibility Study - Stanislaus County

Economics Appendix – Draft Report - Orestimba Creek Feasibility Study, Stanislaus County, California – September 2012
Places of Sensitive Nature
Emergency responders are likely to be impacted by the flood event as it is noted that both the
Newman City Fire Department and the Newman City Police Department may be inundated
under the 1% event flood. Additionally, it should be noted that any facilities providing overnight
home care, such as nursing homes, are particularly vulnerable should a flood occur during
nighttime hours.
No major regional critical infrastructure is expected to be inoperable due to the shallow flooding
in Newman. Police and fire personnel are expected to have sufficient warning time to relocate
necessary equipment and still be capable of providing needed services to the community.
Summary Comparison of the With and Without Alternatives
Without Project-
This analysis focuses primarily on the life safety hazards that residents can be expected during a
1% event flood. As seen by the previous maps a significant part of the City of Newman,
California is expected to be effected by a flood event under the current situation. It should be
noted that the majority of the flooding would occur in the eastern section of Newman, in an area
that is predominately residential that has been constructed in the past 10 years. Shallow flooding
averaging less than 1 foot is expected which, while causing property damage and associated
evacuations, are not expected to result in large numbers of fatalities due to drowning.
One issue to note is that the 66 residents residing in nursing homes in Newman would require
evacuation. Movement of the elderly or infirmed is always done with risk involved. Even with
24 hours notification, care providers need to make alternate lodging accommodations as well as
conduct physical transfer which may cause injury, disruption of routine, disorientation and
anxiety to the elderly. This act of transferring residents is considered the highest risk of life due
to a flood event in the City of Newman.
Rural roads have been flooded in the past and are expected to continue to flood. Fatalities have
resulted from attempts to cross these roads when flooded. Signage or road closures may
decrease the risk to life.
Two considerations may hinder quick rebuilding of Newman as a result of a flood event. The
high rate of unemployment will tend to dampen reconstruction efforts due to limited income of
those home owners. Secondly, the recent decrease in home values from an average of about
$400,000 to slightly more than $110,000 is expected to give owners pause when faced with
significant repair costs when compared to the current value of their homes.
With Project-
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