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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 168 <br />Changes in Development and Impact of Future Development: Changes in development have <br />minimally increased (4% or less) the vulnerability of Kittitas County to all the severe weather types <br />outlined in this Plan. Future development may minimally increase (4% or less) the impact of all the severe <br />weather types outlined in this Plan within Kittitas County. <br /> <br />Underserved and At Risk Population: The underserved and at risk population face unique <br />vulnerabilities and impacts as a result of severe weather. These groups include, but are not limited to, <br />low-income families, elderly, individuals with disabilities, those with limited English proficiency, and those <br />without adequate access to emergency resources. These groups may not have access to accurate and <br />timely information due to limited internet access, language barriers, and living in isolated areas. <br />Therefore, critical severe weather advisories may not reach these groups in a timely manner which results <br />in higher injury and mortality rates within these communities. Additionally, those individuals living in <br />isolated areas with limited access (e.g., one (1) road in and one (1) road out) are vulnerable t o being cut <br />off from community lifelines if a landslide due to heavy rainfall or debris from strong winds were to block <br />access to the area for an extended period of time. Additionally, power outages can be life threatening to <br />those dependent on electricity for life support and during extreme temperatures (i.e., extreme cold and <br />heat) individuals will be unable to remain warm or cool. The isolation of this population during severe <br />weather events (e.g., strong winds, heavy rainfall) is a significant concern because they could significantly <br />suffer from the secondary effects of severe weather. <br /> <br />Effects of Climate Change in Severity of Impacts: Atmospheric rivers are part of the water cycle in <br />the Northwest often occurring in the fall and winter, and when beneficial they result in much needed rain <br />to the region. For example, between 1950 and 2010, about 60% to 74% of the persistent drought ended <br />when atmospheric rivers made landfall in the area. However, when these systems produce too much <br />water at once it can result in a significant amount of damage. As global temperatures continue to increase, <br />the amount and severity of atmospheric rivers are projected to increase. Warmer air and oceans serve <br />as fuel for these systems to become larger and stronger, and the atmosphere is capable of holding more <br />moisture. Some research shows that atmospheric rivers are expected to be 25% longer and wider <br />resulting in heavy rainfall and extreme winds over an area for a longer period of time. As rainfall increases, <br />soil will become extremely saturated and unable to absorb additional water increasing runoff which can <br />overwhelm rivers and result in flooding and landslides. Studies have determined that by 2090 <br />atmospheric river events could cause up to $3.2 Billion of damage annually.212F <br />212 <br /> <br />As global average temperatures continue to increase, scientists expect that heat wave events will <br />become more common, more severe, and last longer. Subsequently leading to an increase of heat - <br />related illnesses and deaths.213F <br />213 Meanwhile, extreme and dangerous cold events continue to occur, but <br />are becoming shorter and milder. The coldest days have warmed the most on average in the Northwest <br />by 8.4°F.214F <br />214 Table 4-114 indicates the 25-year heat and precipitation projections for Kittitas County.215F <br />215 <br /> <br /> <br />212 United States Department of Agriculture Climate Hubs. (n.d.). Atmospheric Rivers in the Northwest. Retrieved <br />from https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northwest/topic/atmospheric -rivers-northwest-0. <br />213 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Climate <br />Change and Extreme Heat: What You Can Do to Prepared. Retrieved from <br />https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-10/documents/extreme-heat-guidebook.pdf. <br />214 Climate Central. (2024). Coldest Days Warming Up. Retrieved from https://www.climatecentral.org/climate- <br />matters/coldest-days-warming-up. <br />215 Northeast Regional Climate Center. (n.d.). Neighborhoods at Risk: Climate Projections. Retrieved from <br />https://nar.headwaterseconomics.org/.