Res 2024-045 approving the 2024 City of San Marcos Hazards Mitigation Action Plan (“HMAP”)

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SECTION 4: RISK OVERVIEW HazardDescription.................................................................................................................... 1 Disaster Declaration History....................................................................................................... 4 Natural Hazards and Climate Change........................................................................................ 5 Overview of Hazard Analysis..................................................................................................... 7 HazardRanking......................................................................................................................... 9 HAZARD DESCRIPTION Section 4 is the first phase of the Risk Assessment, providing background information for the hazard identification process and descriptions for the hazards identified. The Risk Assessment continues with Sections 5 through 17, which include hazard descriptions and vulnerability assessments. Upon a review of the full range of natural hazards suggested under FEMA planning guidance, the City of San Marcos identified 13 natural hazards that are addressed in the 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update and were identified as significant, as shown in Table 4-1. The hazards were identified through input from Planning Team members and a review of the current 2018 State of Texas Hazard Mitigation Plan (State Plan). Readily available online information from reputable sources such as federal and state agencies were also evaluated and utilized to supplement information as needed. In general, there are three main categories of natural hazards: atmospheric, hydrologic, and technological. Atmospheric hazards are events or incidents associated with weather generated phenomenon. The atmospheric hazards that have been identified as significant for the planning area include extreme heat, hail, hurricane/tropical storm, lightning, thunderstorm wind, tornado, and winter storm (Table 4-1). Hydrologic hazards are events or incidents associated with water related damage and account for over 75 percent of Federal disaster declarations in the United States. Hydrologic hazards identified as significant for the planning area include flood and drought. Technological hazards refer to the origins of incidents that can arise from human activities, such as the construction and maintenance of dams. They are distinct from natural hazards primarily because they originate from human activity. The risks presented by natural hazards may be increased or decreased as a result of human activity, however they are not inherently human - induced. Therefore, dam failure is classified as a quasi -technological hazard and referred to as "technological" in Table 4-1 for purposes of description. For the Risk Assessment, the wildfire, earthquake, and expansive soils hazards are considered "other," since the hazards are not considered atmospheric, hydrologic, nor technological. City of San Marcos I Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Update 2024 1 Page 1