Flood Plan Emergency Plan-2019
Emergency Management Department
26 Carlon Drive
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1039
Local Emergency Flood Plan
A plan of emergency Action for the City of Northampton
overseen by the Emergency Flood Coordinating Board
MEMBERS:
Mayor
Emergency Manager
Fire Department Representative
Police Department Representative
Public Works Director
Original Flood Control Plan- March 19, 1970
Revised- March 18, 1990
April 6, 2001
October 10, 2005
March 10, 2019
*This Plan should be thoroughly read as some Actions are required prior to the actual flood stage(s)*
CONNECTICUT AND MILL RIVER FLOOD STAGES FOR
EMERGENCY COORDINATION
BACKGROUND
The flood protection system for the City of Northampton consists of two main parts:
An earth dike on the eastern part of the City affording protection against high water from the Connecticut River.
An earth dike and concrete flood wall in the western part of the City which, together with the Mill River diversion canal, affords protection against flash floods on the Mill River and
backwater from the Connecticut River via the Ox Bow.
FAILURE OF EITHER SYSTEM NULLIFIES PROTECTION AFFORDED BY THE OTHER.
The Mill River can flash flood independent of the Connecticut River due to its local watershed while the Connecticut River requires a major Northeast Region (Massachusetts/New Hampshire/Vermont)
event to cause flooding.
The Wastewater Treatment Facility and Flood Control Facility for the Connecticut River are located off Hockanum Road. The Flood Control structure for West Street is part of the West
Street Bridge over the Mill River at the intersection West Street (Route 66) and Lower College Lane.
EMERGENCY PLAN
Elevation 105 ft.
Effect: Connecticut River backs up sewage outfall line to the manhole invert at Hockanum Road pumping station.
1. Action Alarm at Flood Control sounds and telephone call list to DPW is implemented.
Phase A: Elevation 105.5 – 106 ft.
Effect: Negligible.
1. Action Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) closes outfall gate at its sewage effluent pumping station. WWTF effluent is then pumped to the Connecticut River. The sluice gate on
the gravity conduit at the Flood Control Pumping Station (located at WWTF) is closed and storm flow is pumped into the flood plain.
2. Action Director of Public Works (DPW), or designee, initiates a watch and informs the Mayor, Emergency Manager, Police (NPD) and Fire Departments (NFR) as increasing flood phase
levels are reached. Notification can be made through Public Safety Dispatch.
3. Action Community notification made by established email lists, or other pre-determined means, to advise of rising water level.
Phase B: Elevation 107 ft.
Effect: Connecticut River and Mill River diversion begins flooding Pynchon Meadows and Manhan Meadows.
1. Action DPW Flood Control notifies Central Dispatch and DPW Sewer Department Foreman.
2. Action Central Dispatch notifies NPD and NFR shift Officer In Charge (OIC).
3. Action DPW closes Pynchon Meadow Road and Old Springfield Road.
Phase C: Elevation 112 ft.
Effect: Manhan Meadows starts flooding into South Street interceptor.
1. Action DPW Flood Control notifies Central Dispatch (and at every increased Phase.)
2. Action Central Dispatch makes the following notifications: (to be made at every increased Phase from now on).
NPD and NFR shift OIC’s (call stations)
Mayor (Flood page)
Police Chief (pager)
Fire Chief (Flood page)
Communications Center Administrator (Flood page)
Central Services Director
Building Commissioner
Red Cross
City Councilors in wards affected
3. Action DPW inspects gate valve on sanitary sewer outside dike at Route 5/Mt. Tom Road and Fort Hill interceptor.
Phase D: Elevation 115 ft.
Effect: Route 5/Mt. Tom Road floods near Easthampton Line and/or Island Road. Venturer’s Field Road and Hockanum Road near flooding.
1. Action DPW closes Venturer’s Field Road and Hockanum Road at dike.
2. Action DPW begins closing gate valve on storm interceptor at Pomeroy Terrace outside dike.
3. Action NPD closes Rt. 5/Mt. Tom Road just south of Atwood Drive.
4. Action NPD patrols on Island Road and Ferry Avenue to warn and evacuate residents.
5. Action DPW dispatches partial dike patrol.
6. Action Central Dispatch notifies MassHighway District 2 to close Route 5/Mt. Tom Road.
7. Action Emergency Management sets up Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 26 Carlon Drive: no staffing, precautionary measure only.
8. Action NPD and NFR evaluate need for pre-placing emergency equipment near Island Road. Neighborhood for use if area becomes isolated by water.
Phase E: Elevation 120 ft.
Effect: Old Ferry Road, Fair Street Extension and Walnut Trees Path starts flooding. Mill River at West Street begins flood stages.
1. Action Mayor decides whether to call the Emergency Flood Coordinating Board to a meeting in the EOC (26 Carlon Drive).
2. Action DPW closes Old Ferry Road at Route 91 underpass and Fair Street Extension and Walnut Trees Path.
3. Action Police patrol on Fair Street Extension and Walnut Trees Path to warn and evacuate residents.
4. Action DPW dispatches full dike patrol.
5. Action Emergency Manager orders PanAm Railroad main closed.
6. Action DPW notifies PanAm Railroad and MassHighway District 2. Install center uprights for stop log structures at Route 5/Mt. Tom Road and PANAM Railroad main. Readies sand bags
and stop log structure materials.
7. Action Police Department stations traffic police on Mt. Tom Road near dike.
8. Action DPW opens fence at Riverbank Road and Rt. 9 for vehicular traffic and notifies MassHighway.
9. Action EOC staffed at minimal level (2-3 people). Begin planning for food and accommodations for evacuated residents.
10. Action DPW closes flap valve on Mill River concrete wall off West Street (south of bridge). DPW readies West Street pumping station. Pumping as required.
Phase F: Elevation 124 ft.
Effect: Sill of stop log structure at Route 5/Mt. Tom Road begins flooding.
Sill of stop log structure at PanAm Railroad main line is within one foot of flooding.
Riverbank Road is within one foot of flooding.
Mill River at West Street flood control activities commence.
1. Action DPW erects full stop log structures, Route 5/Mt. Tom Road and PanAm Railroad main line.
2. Action DPW distributes sandbags to critical locations along Connecticut River dikes.
3. Action Install center uprights for stop log structures at Mill River at West Street. Readies sand bags and stop log structure materials.
4. Action Emergency Management locates 30 additional workers to assist DPW with emergency stand-by.
5. Action Begin water rescue operations with assistance of NPD and NFR.
6. Action Increase EOC staffing level up to maximum (to be determined by Emergency Manager).
Phase G: Elevation 127 ft.
Effect: Connecticut River flood level within three feet of top of concrete wall flood control facility at WWTF. Mill River at West Street nears flood levels. Portions of South Street/Route
10 (Mill River east) start flooding.
1. Action DPW erects full stop logs structures on West Street. DPW distributes sandbags to critical locations along Mill River dikes.
2. Action Police patrol on Earle Street, Paquette Avenue, South Street/Route 10 (Mill River east), Texas Road and West Street (Mill River east to Earle Street) to warn and evacuate
residents.
3. Action Mayor of Northampton requests Governor to declare State of Emergency.
4. Action Consider relocating EOC to DPW Board Room (125 Locust Street)
Phase H: Elevation 130 ft.
Effect: Flood level is at top of concrete wall of Flood Control Facility. Connecticut River starts to over run into City property.
1. Action Flood Control and WWTF Personnel evacuate facilities.
2. Action Mayor and Emergency Manager are in a command situation - order all residents to evacuate areas of City under elevation of 135 ft.
Phase I: Elevation 131 ft.
Effect: Sill of stop log structure at West Street begins flooding.
1. Action Place sandbags at old railroad bridge (south of West Street) opening. This bridge opening is now the Northampton to Easthampton Rail Trail.
Phase J: Elevation 132 ft.
Effect: Flood level is at top of Connecticut River dikes. Connecticut River ready to over run into city property along the entire Connecticut River dike system.
1. Action Continued evacuation of City under elevation of 135 feet.
Phase K: Elevation 137 ft.
Effect: Mill River is at top of old railroad bridge opening south (below) of West Street. Portions of Lovefield Street begin flooding. Mill River flood control system starts flooding
City (direct link to downtown) via old Mill River bed (formerly railroad, now a bicycle rail trail).
1. Action Mayor and Emergency Manager are in a command situation- order all residents to evacuate areas of City under elevation of 145 ft.
Phase L: Elevation 140 ft.
Effect: Mill River is at top of flood control structure south (below) of West Street.
1. Action Mayor and Emergency Manager are in a command situation- order all residents to evacuate areas of City under elevation of 150 ft.
Phase M: Elevation 145 ft.
Effect: Mill River is at top of flood control structure north (above) of West Street.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
DPW Flood Control 413-587-1093
WWTF 413-587-1090
DPW 413-587-1570
Public Safety Dispatch 413-587-1100
NFR 413-587-1039 (Emergency Management)
NPD 413-587-1110 (Desk Officer)
PANAM Railroad 978-505-4669 alternate 978-302-6140
MassHighway District 2 413-584-1611
Baystate Gas 800-792-2444
Original Flood Control Documents Deleted or Amended
DELETED
West Street Dike - Close gate in Propper-McCallum Building (now the Smith College Physical Plant); Elevation 120.0. Inspection of building in 2005 with Smith College shows that this
piping is no longer connected inside building. It is not know when this disconnect was made or by who. The 1’ x 1’ opening in the flood wall still exists at elevation 119.9. Two (2)
high water events in 2005 showed no effect.
AMENDED
Connecticut River Dike – Close gate valve in chamber east of Eastern Avenue; Elevation 107.0
The Flood Control staff has historically shut this gate at elevation 115.0. It is unknown why this inconsistency exists.
Connecticut River Dike – Close gate valve in chamber west of Highway Route5; Elevation 112.0
This gate was on an old sanitary collection trunk line for South Street. This sanitary collection line was replaced in 1981 with a different horizontal alignment and locking (watertight)
covers. The Mt. Tom Road (Route 5) sewer still passes through this gate but also has locking (watertight) covers.
Flood Control Plan 031006