Resolution_2025 Kittitas County Hazard Mitigation Plan

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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan Kittitas County, Washington Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 167 2023 resulted from extreme heat (1,862), tornadoes (955), and winter weather (230). The largest number of reported deaths resulted from extreme heat (294), wildfires (105), and tornadoes (91).206F 206 Under the right conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms are capable of causing flash flooding, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes, or lightning. Additionally, large hail (e.g., size of a softball) can fall at speeds of over 100 mph and cause significant damage to an individual, property, and livestock.207F 207 Strong winds/damaging winds can impact structures and infrastructure, result in large areas with power and communication outages as it can knock down power and communication lines, roads can become impassible because of debris, and signs, roofing material, and loose objects left outside can become airborne causing injuries or serious accidents to people. Property Damage and Critical Facilities: All properties and critical facilities within Kittitas County are vulnerable to sever weather. However, properties that are structurally compromised or in particular vulnerable locations are more vulnerable to the impacts of severe weather. For example, those in higher elevations and on ridges may be more susceptible to wind damage. Since 1980, severe storms have caused over $455 Billion in total damage, with events only increasing in severity and frequency as temperatures continue to rise.208F 208 Strong winds and tornadoes can directly and indirectly damage property and infrastructure due to falling trees, flying debris, and blown windows. Fallen trees can block roadways incapacitating transportation which disrupts ingress, egress and the shipment of goods and other commerce, and uprooted trees can tear down power lines. Incapacity and loss of roads are the primary transportation failures resulting from severe weather, mostly associated with secondary hazards. For example, landslides caused by heavy prolonged rainfall events can block roads. Refer to the Landslide section of this Plan for further details on the vulnerability and impact. Extreme temperatures events (i.e., cold and heat waves) stress current infrastructure due to increased electrical loads. This may lead to an unstable grid and power loss during extreme heat waves. Cold waves can also severely impact critical infrastructure and property by damaging and destroying buildings and equipment. These damages due to extreme cold temperatures include frozen electrical equipment, cracked water pipes, dangerous/damaged roads, damaged bridges, and damaged aircraft systems.209F 209 Economy: The number and cost of weather and climate disasters are increasing in the United States; therefore, are causing a larger financial impact.210F 210 Severe weather accounts for nearly 50% of all billion- dollar weather disasters in the United States since 1980.211F 211 Transportation systems can be severely impacted by severe weather. Disruption from debris blocking transportations routes, physical damage to transportation resources and critical infrastructure due to hail, strong winds, and/or tornadoes, can cause major disruptions to the County’s economy. 206 National Safety Council, Injury Facts. (n.d.). Most Dangerous Weather Event Types in 2022. Retrieved from https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/home-and-community/safety-topics/weather-related-deaths-and-injuries/. 207 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Severe Storms Laboratory. (n.d.). Severe Weather 101: Thunderstorm Basics. Retrieved from https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/thunderstorms/. 208 Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. (n.d.). Severe Storms. Retrieved from https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/extreme-weather-and-climate- change/severe-storms. 209 Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical- infrastructure-security-and-resilience/extreme-weather-and-climate-change/extreme-cold. 210 Smith, A. B. (2024). 2023: A Historic Year of U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters. Retrieved from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/beyond-data/2023-historic-year-us-billion-dollar-weather-and- climate-disasters. 211 Climate Central. (2022). Changing Thunderstorm Potential. Retrieved from https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/changing-thunderstorm-potential.