5.1.2.b Prevention Discussion

Both natural and human induced hazards pose a threat to life and property, and may necessitate costly public improvements. Prevention of both natural and man-made hazards is the first step in making the city of Surprise a safer community. These hazards may be a result of geological hazards to natural events to public hazards or may arise from development such as: site layout, faulty construction, high noise areas, and military hazard zones. The city will make all efforts to reduce or eliminate these hazards. Examples of such hazards include the following.

Natural or Geological Hazards

Geological hazards, such as subsidence, and unstable slopes or soils may present a threat to life and property and necessitate costly public improvements. Surprise should establish methods to identify the hazard areas and to review and regulate development where such hazards may occur.

Surprise is subject to significant weather extremes due to its Sonoran Desert location. Very high summer heat, powerful summer thunderstorms, soaking winter rains, and the potential for flooding are all typical in Sonoran Desert locations. Planning efforts must consider the adequacy of the plan in relation to the weather extremes.

Man-made Activities

Hazards resulting from human developments or activities such as crime; faulty construction; poor site layout; improper location of land uses; airport approaches or high noise areas; ground water overuse; or the use, storage, or disposal of explosive, flammable, toxic or other dangerous materials may pose a threat to life and property and may necessitate costly public improvements. To reduce or eliminate these hazards, Surprise needs to continue to establish measures to identify hazardous areas and to review and regulate development where such hazards occur.

Hazardous Materials

Many man-made substances can be hazardous to health. The increased use of such materials has increased potential hazards and actual damage. Public concerns have led to tighter controls on the production, transport, storage, sale, and use of hazardous materials and, particularly on the handling and disposal of concentrated residues and wastes produced by industrial operations. Industrial sites where materials such as paint, rubber products, oil, tar, solvents, and pesticides are used have the potential to contaminate the environment. Hazardous materials, such as paints, solvents and cleaning compounds, are also present in small quantities in many homes. The proper disposal of these materials is important to sustaining a clean and healthy environment.

Fire

Fire can arise from natural or man made sources. Fire hazard regulations are intended to minimize on-site property damage and personal injury, avoid damage to adjacent properties, and reduce the cost of fire suppression services. Increasing "built-in" fire protection in new construction is the most cost effective way of achieving these objectives. All development must have adequate water available for fire suppression, whether from a hydrant and community system or from an on site storage tank.
Where development is permitted in the midst of natural vegetation, the fire hazard must be further mitigated by other measures. The locations of subdivision lots and building envelopes can maximize access by emergency vehicles. Preventing the spread of fires to and from structures also requires removal of surrounding vegetation and clearing of fuel breaks.

Noise

Noise can be annoying and physically harmful to human beings and animals. Exposure to intense noise can result in hearing damage. Sources contributing to the potentially harmful noise levels include aircraft, motor vehicle traffic, railroad traffic, open industrial operations such as gravel quarries, shooting ranges, and various construction noises.