Vision Planning and Consulting (VPC) facilitated the first of two County meetings in Bedford County for Phase 2 of the Pennsylvania Historic Museums Commission’s (PHMC) Disaster Planning for Historic Properties Initiative. VPC Team members presented to Bedford County officials, a detailed overview of the project, including: background; GIS analysis methodology; architectural analysis and building selection overview; proposed County goals and objectives; plan integration efforts; hazard mitigation action development; and incorporation of historic properties into Bedford County’s newly updated Hazard Mitigation Plan.
VPC Team members presented the GIS analysis and methodology employed to determine the Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) results for properties identified in Phase I. Following the determination of historically-significant structures in the 100-year floodplain, flood depth for each structure was calculated to determine flood risk, via inundation heights, during a 100-year flood. VPC then presented the list of 30 representative properties, based on flood vulnerability recommended for hazard mitigation action development. The 30 properties were selected based on structure type, architectural style, current condition, current use, and location, for which, mitigation actions will be developed.
The County participated in a goals and objectives exercise. Mitigation actions for each property will be presented at the second round of County meetings, scheduled for April 2018, for final approval, where the VPC Team will also work closely with the County and PHMC to prioritize the specific hazard mitigation actions, in order to create the most effective and feasible preservation-based hazard mitigation solutions.