Local Mitigation Strategy

Mitigation is any action taken to permanently reduce or eliminate the risk to people and their property from the effects of hazards. The key to successful hazard vulnerability reduction through mitigation is to implement a well-conceived planning process. The Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Working Group was established to encourage the public, private, and non-profit sectors of the community to become more resistant to the impacts of future disasters. The LMS Working Group has been tasked with a comprehensive evaluation of the vulnerabilities of Seminole County for all-hazards in order to identify ways to make the community more resilient to the impacts of disasters.

The primary purpose of the LMS is to establish an on-going process that encourages hazard mitigation as part of a daily routine for Seminole County and its municipalities. The LMS process is to assess vulnerabilities to all types of hazards; identify a comprehensive list of goals, objectives, plans, programs and projects in order to decrease or eliminate the effects of the identified vulnerabilities; and then prioritize the implementation of the selected initiatives.

To learn more, click on Local Mitigation Strategy.

CRS Activity 510 

Annual Progress Report on Implementation of Credited Plan.
Date this Annual Progress Report was prepared: March 15, 2021
(not the credited Hazard Mitigation Plan or Repetitive Loss Area Analysis)

Name of Community:  The City of Oviedo                      
Name of Hazard Mitigation Plan: Local Mitigation Strategy Plan
Date of Adoption of Plan: April 06, 2020
5 Year CRS Expiration Date: October 01, 2024

1. How can a copy of the credited Hazard Mitigation Plan (Floodplain Management Plan) or Repetitive Loss Area Analysis be obtained? 

The Local Mitigation Strategy plan can be found on the City of Oviedo’s webpage at: Local Mitigation Strategy.pdf

2. Describe how this annual progress report (not the credited Hazard Mitigation Plan or Repetitive Loss Area Analysis) was prepared and how it was submitted to the governing body, released to the media, and made available to the public: 

The City’s Community Rating System (CRS) Coordinator and Certified Floodplain Manager prepared this evaluation report and provided it for review by all audiences on public forums used by the City. Topics reviewed but were not limited to structural inspections, retention and detention ponds, drainage problem evaluations, base flood elevation requests, lake levels, provided flood information to realtors, lenders, residents and business owners, water quality reports, public outreach and stormwater structural rehabilitation and retrofit projects.

3. Provide a description of the implementation of each recommendation or action item in the action plan or area analysis report, including a statement on how the project was implemented or not implemented during the previous year:

The Local Mitigation Strategy Plan (LMS) is an extension of the existing Floodplain Management Plan and has regular meetings attended by local municipalities including emergency personnel from the City of Oviedo, local business owners and residents who provide updated data for hazard mitigation.   The Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) was formally adopted on April 06, 2020 in a public meeting by Oviedo City Council.  The following goals are outlined within this plan.

Goals

1. Local government shall make every reasonable effort to identify, develop, implement, and reduce hazard vulnerability through effective mitigation programs.

The City of Oviedo has not experienced any natural hazard events that resulted in flood or wind damage during the past year. As identified within the LMS all communities within Seminole County participate in the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) and the Community Rating System (CRS) the City of Oviedo maintains its classification of 6 through mitigation activity items listed below:

2. All sectors of the community will work together to create a disaster-resilient community.

The City of Oviedo attends the Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group Meetings held quarterly. Minutes and attendance reports are held on file.

3. Reduce the vulnerability of critical infrastructures and public facilities from the effects of all hazards.

The current floodplain management code prevents critical infrastructures from being located within a special flood hazard area or near sensitive lands that could pose a flooding threat. During 2020 the City purchased an upgrade to its Scada system and two new control panels for the water plant and public water system.  

4. Strengthen continuity planning for local government to avoid significant disruptions of services.

The City has updated its Scada system software which is a first reporting method for interruptions and/or defects to public wastewater lines. It continues to identify generators supporting public lift-stations that need to be replaced and purchase these as necessary. The City’s current floodplain management code prevents critical facilities from being located within a special flood hazard area.  All City facilities are inspected annually through the city’s safety committee and recommendations for improvements are made based on any findings or comments. 

5. Develop policies and regulations to support effective hazard mitigation programming throughout the community.

The City is currently updating its Code of Ordinances and Land Development Code to include the new Model Floodplain Ordinance by the Department of Emergency Management (DEM). This should be finalized and adopted before September 2021.

progress report continued

4. Discuss why any objectives were not reached or why implementation is behind schedule:

The adoption of the Model Floodplain Ordinance was delayed due to the pandemic Covid19 and necessary cancellations, restricted meetings and reorganization of business for the safety of residents and staff.

5. What are the recommendations for new projects or revised recommendations?

Continued efforts for rehabilitation to aging infrastructure in older neighborhoods are ongoing. Sweetwater Creek is identified as the City’s floodway and inspections are conducted annually by drone. Necessary vegetation clearing or armoring of banks are submitted through a work order system to ensure the floodway is functioning. Major outfalls that discharge the City Stormwater System to surrounding surface waters are also manually inspected on an annual basis to ensure functionality. Areas that are needing retrofitting due to poor drainage or changes to surrounding elevations are placed on the capital improvement program in priority order and put forward for budget consideration and approval by City Council. A local floodplain species habitat report is currently being considered as an additional creditable item as listed in the amending CRS manual of 2020 and the new CRS manual publication becoming effective in April of 2021.