Community Profile

Geography and Climate

Situated in the north-central part of Colorado, west of the City of Denver, Jefferson County is split between foothills on the west and plains on the east. The majority of the population is located in the northern portion of the county, while the southern portion is dominated by Pike National Forest. The county is 773 square miles in size, and 653 square miles are unincorporated areas. The landscape is comprised of approximately 72% mountains and 28% plains. The ecologies located in the County include prairies, and forests. This area includes a significant intermix between developed and forest areas, which increases the wildfire risks in those regions. breaks down land ownership in the County.

Table 2-1 Jefferson County Land Ownership

Land Ownership	Acres	% of Total
Private Lands	289,480	58.4%
Conservation Easement	9,737	2.0%
Federal Lands	111,966	22.6%
Forest Service	103,248	20.8%
BLM	355	0.1%
National Park Service	0	0.0%
Military	3,093	0.6%
Other Federal	5,270	1.1%
State Lands	10,412	2.1%
State Trust Lands*	3,087	0.6%
Other State	7,325	1.5%
Tribal Lands	0	0.0%
City, County, Other	83,542	16.9%
Total	495,399

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Protected Areas Database of the United States (PADUS)

Approximately 40% of the unincorporated areas of the County are reserved as parks, open space, and open land. Jefferson County is home to three state parks: Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Staunton State Park, and Chatfield State Park offer a variety of activities, trails, boating, and other events. The County also has a robust network of open space parks (Jefferson County Open Space, or JCOS) with 27 regional park units, 252 miles of trails, and 56,000 acres preserved. Additionally, the Denver Mountain Park system includes 10,271 acres in Jefferson County.

Jefferson County is marked by some distinctive geologic features. The hogback formations, rock formations that rise sharply just at the base of the foothills, provide a steep valley between the formation and the formal foothill regions, are unique in appearance, and easily identified by travelers. One of the most notable elements of the hogback is the Dinosaur Ridge formation, where fossils and dinosaur tracks are easily accessible. Other notable geologic features include Green Mountain, North and South Table Mountains, and Red Rocks Amphitheater and Park. Several large reservoirs are located in the County as well, including, Blunn, Chatfield, Bear Creek, Ralston, Marston, Bow Mar, Sloan, and Standley Lake. The site of the former Rocky Flats facility is also located in the County and is now a National Wildlife Refuge (US Fish and Wildlife Service).

Jefferson County’s climate is fairly temperate but demonstrates four distinct seasons. The average temperature in July (the hottest month) is 74°F and in January (the coldest month) is 30°F. The county averages 15.4 inches of precipitation and 60.3 inches of snow. There are periods of extreme temperature variations, but they are generally accompanied by other climactic considerations such as drought or winter storms. A base map of Jefferson County is shown in shows the various fire protection districts that serve the County.

Figure 2-1 Jefferson County Base Map

Figure 2-2 Jefferson County Fire Protection Districts

Population

Jefferson County has grown by an estimated 39,969 residents since the 2010 U.S. Census, totaling 574,798 people in 2019. This equals an average yearly growth rate of 0.6% for this 9-year period. The majority of the population resides in the unincorporated areas of the county and the cities of Westminster, Lakewood, Arvada, and Littleton. Population estimates for 2015 and 2019 are provided in

Table 2-2 Jefferson County Population

Jurisdiction	2015 Population (est.)	2019 Population (est.)	% Change 2015 to 2019
Arvada	111,658	118,746	6.35%
Edgewater	5,237	5,328	1.74%
Golden	19,780	20,693	4.62%
Lakewood	147,836	155,146	4.94%
Morrison	394	415	5.33%
Wheat Ridge	30,863	31,331	1.52%
Unincorporated	236,566	243,139	2.78%
Total	552,334	574,798	4.07%

Source: Quickfacts.census.gov

Select Census and American Community Survey demographic and social characteristics for Jefferson County are shown in with comparisons to the State and the Country summarized in Characteristics are for the entire County.

Table 2-3 Jefferson County Demographic and Social Characteristics, 2015-2019

Jefferson County	2015	2019	% Change
Population	552,334	574,798	4.07%
Median Age	40.4	40.3	-0.2%
Total Housing Units	232,477	240,956	3.6%
Housing Occupancy Rate	95.9%	96.4%	0.5%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available	4.3%	3.9%	-9.3%
Median Home Value	$279,500	$397,700	42.3%
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.6%	-12.2%
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes)	27	28	3.7%
Median Household Income	$70,164	$82,986	18.3%
Per Capita Income	$37,065	$44,119	19.0%
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level	8.5%	7.1%	-16.5%
% Without Health Insurance	14.2%	5.5%	-61.3%
# of Households	222,892	232,284	4.2%
Average Household Size	2.4	2.4	0.0%
% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma or Higher	94.0%	94.5%	0.5%
% of Population Over 25 with Bachelor’s Degree or Higher	41.6%	45.2%	8.7%
% with Disability	9.6%	10.0%	4.2%
% Speak English less than “Very Well”	3.1%	3.0%	-3.2%

Source: US Census and American Community Survey

Table 2-4 Jefferson County Demographic and Social Characteristics Compared to the State and the Nation

Demographic & Social Characteristics (as of 2019)	County	Colorado	U.S.
Median Age	40.3	36.7	38.1
Housing Occupancy Rate	96.4%	90.0%	87.9%
% of Housing Units with no Vehicles Available	3.9%	5.1%	8.6%
Median Home Value	$397,700	$343,300	$217,500
Unemployment	3.6%	4.3%	5.3%
Mean Travel Time to Work (minutes)	28	25.8	26.9
Median Household Income	$82,986	$72,331	$62,843
Per Capita Income	$44,119	$38,226	$34,103
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level	7.1%	10.3%	13.4%
% Without Health Insurance	5.5%	7.6%	5.1%
Average Household Size	2.40	2.56	2.62
% of Population Over 25 with High School Diploma or Higher	94.5%	91.7%	88.0%
% of Population Over 25 with bachelor’s degree or Higher	45.2%	40.9%	32.1%
% with Disability	10.0%	10.6%	12.6%
% Speak English less than “Very Well”	3.0%	5.8%	8.4%

Source: US Census and American Community Survey.

Social Vulnerability

Local vulnerability to disasters depends on more than the relationship between a place and its exposure to hazards. Social vulnerability to disasters refers to the characteristics and situation of a person or group that influence their capacity to anticipate, cope with, resist, or recover from the impact of a hazard. It is determined by a number of pre-existing social and economic characteristics, including race, age, income, renter status, or institutionalized living. Very often, the impacts of hazards fall disproportionately on the most underserved or marginalized people in a community – people with low income, children, people who are aging, people with disabilities, and minorities. During emergencies, for example, self-evacuation can be difficult or nearly impossible for individuals who are disabled or institutionalized. Additionally, the willingness of an individual/family to invest in residential mitigation actions is often limited if their home is a rental and they are averse to investing money in long-term mitigation activity. Not only do conditions like these limit the ability of some communities to get out of harm’s way, they also decrease the ability of communities to recover from and thrive in the aftermath of a disaster event.

The term social vulnerability is used here to describe communities more vulnerable to a risk or hazard, such as high vulnerability due to wildfires or floods based upon geography, topography, hydrology or weather. Referencing people themselves directly with the term vulnerable can cause individual community members to be seen with a deficit lens, leaving the impression that the vulnerability is a result of the lack of responsibility and/or adequate planning of the individual. Instead, vulnerability occurs when the system that the individual is part of fails to provide equitable accessibility to resources or services, known as access and functional needs, for the individual to survive, respond to, and recover from an event. Barriers that may be exacerbated by certain social and economic factors – including race, age, income, renter status, or institutionalized living – directly affect a community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazards and disasters. The concept of social vulnerability helps explain why communities often experience a hazard event differently, even when they experience the same amount of physical impacts or property loss.

For the 2021 plan update, the concept of social vulnerability has been introduced into the hazard risk analysis to more effectively identify hazard risk experienced by the most vulnerable residents and communities within the county. The social vulnerability assessment is designed to improve local decision making, hazard prioritization, and emergency management activities. By incorporating social vulnerability

into the risk assessments of individual hazards, local communities can identify more vulnerable areas and tailor their mitigation actions to accommodate all members of their community, including the most sensitive groups.

Social vulnerability analysis is particularly useful in the context of hazard mitigation planning because it can reveal disparities within a community that make a difference when it comes to the ability of residents to mitigate, prepare, evacuate, mobilize resources, and recover from disasters. Areas on the map that have medium to high social vulnerability represent areas where age, poverty, race/ethnicity, or special needs factors may make it more difficult for people to prepare, respond, and recover from hazard events. Social vulnerability information can also be used to help communities design effective and appropriate local risk communication and hazard mitigation outreach activities.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a social vulnerability index (SoVI) as a way to measure the resilience of communities when confronted by external stresses such as natural or human-caused disasters or disease outbreaks. The SoVI is broken down at the census tract level and provides insight into particularly vulnerable populations to assist emergency planners and public health officials identify communities more likely to require additional support before, during, and after a hazardous event. The SoVI index combines four main themes of vulnerability, which are in turn broken down into subcategories for a total of 15 vulnerability factors. displays those 15 factors and shows how Jefferson County compares to other counties in Colorado and nationally. The rankings show the percentage of counties that Jefferson County is more vulnerable than, i.e. – high numbers reflect greater relative vulnerability.

Table 2-5 Social Vulnerability in Jefferson County

Variable	Ranking Compared to Colorado Counties	Ranking Compared to US Counties	Relative Vulnerability
Socioeconomic status	13%	2%	Low
Below poverty	16%	6%	Low
Unemployment	32%	21%	Low
Income	11%	3%	Low
No high school diploma	29%	5%	Low
Household composition and disability	32%	2%	Low
Age 65 or older	38%	26%	Below Average
Age 17 or younger	49%	25%	Below Average
Disability	29%	6%	Low
Single-parent households	40%	21%	Low
Minority status and language	46%	67%	Above Average
Minority	49%	59%	Above Average
Speaking English “less than well”	44%	69%	Above Average
Housing and transportation	21%	20%	Low
Multi-unit structures	81%	95%	High
Mobile homes	3%	4%	Low
Crowding	17%	30%	Below Average

Variable	Ranking Compared to Colorado Counties	Ranking Compared to US Counties	Relative Vulnerability
No vehicle	40%	21%	Low
Group quarters	43%	35%	Below Average
Overall Social Vulnerability	24%	6%	Low

Source: CDC SoVI Data

displays the overall SoVI data for Jefferson County broken down by census tract. through breaks the data down by the four main themes described above. Most of the areas with the highest level of social vulnerability are in the northeastern portions of the County in the metro area, where the majority of the population is concentrated.

Additional information on the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index can be found at

Figure 2-3 Jefferson County Overall Social Vulnerability

Figure 2-4 Jefferson County Socioeconomic Vulnerability

Figure 2-5 Jefferson County Household Composition and Disability Vulnerability

Figure 2-6 Jefferson County Minority Status and Language Vulnerability

Figure 2-7 Jefferson County Housing and Transportation Vulnerability

History

Jefferson County has a history rich in people, events and progress. Taking the name of the third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, the County was formally organized in 1861 by the Colorado Territorial Legislature. The need for an organized local government began in the late 1850s when droves of gold- seeking settlers came west. In 1858, when gold was discovered in the Rocky Mountains, there were fewer than 200 settlers in the area. An influx of nearly 35,000 people arrived two years later, lured by the glitter of gold. The first provisional governor of Jefferson Territory was Robert W. Steele, who lived at Mount Vernon. County offices were located in Loveland Hall until 1877 when the first Jefferson County Courthouse was built. Commissioners in 1862 were paid $3 per day for their meetings plus mileage to the meeting hall. The City of Golden served as the capital for the Colorado Territory from 1862 to 1867.

The county tax in 1862 was 6 mills and the school tax was 2.5 mills. County taxes for that year amounted to $1,594.61. By comparison, in 1996 Jefferson County’s mill levy was 25.584 and property taxes alone exceeded $96,000,000. In the early years, farmers and ranchers thrived by supplying food and supplies to the mining towns scattered throughout the mountains. Mining occurred along the Hogback in Idledale, on Lookout Mountain, and in Genesee. Contemporary elements within the County include a variety of industries. Some of these are aerospace engineering from companies such as Lockheed Martin, environmental engineering from Ball Corp., the Coors brewery, the Colorado School of Mines, local grocery chains, and numerous private, locally owned, or large corporate businesses. Many of these, such as the School of Mines and Coors Brewery, were established in the late 1800s and are nearly as old as the territory itself. Dinosaur Ridge, where fossils were first discovered in 1877, remains a prominent and archaeologically significant resource. Mount Olivet Cemetery, which opened in 1892 and was called “The New City of the Dead”, remains one of the largest cemeteries in Colorado and is still active.

Economy

According to the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, as of 2020, the top employers in the county are:

Lockheed Martin 6,200 employees

St. Anthony Hospital 2,400 employees

Terumo BCT 2,400 employees

Lutheran Medical Center/SCL Health 2,300 employees

MillerCoors Brewing 2,080 employees

National Renewable Energy Lab 1,750 employees

Ball Corporation 1,700 employees

FirstBank Holding Co. of Colorado 1,480 employees

Coorstek 1,300 employees

HomeAdvisor 1,130 employees

Select economic characteristics for Jefferson County from the 2018-2019 American Community Survey Estimates are shown in Characteristics for Jefferson County are for the entire County.

Table 2-6 Jefferson County Economic Characteristics

Characteristic	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
Individuals below poverty level (%)	7.1	5.8	9.6	15.8	9.1	3.2	12.9
Median home value ($)	$397,700	$384,500	$408,500	$522,200	$364,800	$541,700	$383,900
Median household income ($)	$82,986	$84,717	56,028	$72,349	$66,740	$105,536	$57,659
Per capita income ($)	$44,119	$42,921	$33,529	$39,184	$38,612	$40,900	$33,956
Housing Occupancy Rate (%)	96.4	96.9	95.8	94.6	96.5	94.4	95.8
Unemployment rate (%)	3.6	3.8	4.8	4.6	3.5	2.1	3.7

Source: US Census American Community Survey

Land Use and Development Trends

A key strategy for reducing future losses in a community is to avoid development in known hazard areas and to enforce the development of safe structures in other areas. The purpose of this strategy is to keep people, businesses, and buildings out of harm’s way before a hazard event occurs.

Countywide, there have been 8,501 new buildings constructed between 2015 and 2020. Thousands of these new structures have been constructed in areas exposed to one or more hazards. As discussed below in Section 2.7, the County and jurisdictions have land-use regulations in place that require mitigation when building in floodplains and geologic hazard areas, reducing the vulnerability of these new structures. and summarize this trend in greater detail.

Table 2-7 New Structures Built in Hazard Areas, 2015 to 2020

Hazard	New Structures
1% Chance Flood	21
0.2% Chance Flood	71
Local Flood Layers	9
Dam Inundation	784
Landslide	0
Rockfall	0
Slope Failure	3
Subsidence	1,392
Dipping Bedrock	1,297
Total	3,577

Source: Wood analysis based on Jefferson County Assessor’s Office, Colorado Geological Survey, FEMA NFIP Floodplain data, Colorado DWR Dam Safety

Table 2-8 New Structures Built in Wildfire Zones, 2015 to 2020

Wildfire Risk	New Structures
Lowest	2,022
Low	663
Moderate	2,948
High	589

Wildfire Risk	New Structures
Highest	15
Total	6,237

Source: Wood analysis based on Jefferson County Assessor’s Office, Colorado State Forest Service

According to the Colorado State Demography Office, between 2020 and 2030 Jefferson County’s population is projected to grow at an average of 0.7% a year, with the overall growth rate expected to slow to 0.27% between 2030 and 2040. The county’s population is projected to be 643,945 by 2050. shows the population forecast for the next 30 years.

Figure 2-8 Jefferson County Population Forecast, 2000 to 2050

Source: Colorado State Demography Office

Capabilities Assessment

The following section assesses the County’s and jurisdictions’ existing capabilities to pursue hazard mitigation. The capability assessment analyzes Jefferson County’s capabilities that can be leveraged to mitigate hazards. Combining the risk assessment with the mitigation capability assessment results in the County’s “net vulnerability” to disasters, and more accurately focuses the goals, objectives, and proposed actions of this plan.

The HMPC used a two-step approach to conduct this assessment for the County and jurisdictions. First, an inventory of common mitigation activities was made through the use of a matrix. The purpose of this effort was to identify policies and programs that were either in place, needed improvement, or could be undertaken if deemed appropriate. Second, the HMPC conducted an inventory and review of existing policies, regulations, plans, and programs to determine if they contributed to reducing hazard-related losses or if they inadvertently contributed to increasing such losses.

This assessment is divided into four sections: regulatory mitigation capabilities; administrative and technical mitigation capabilities; fiscal mitigation capabilities; and mitigation outreach and partnerships. Additional information on jurisdiction capabilities can also be found in the Annexes.

Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities

lists planning and land management tools typically used by local jurisdictions to implement hazard mitigation activities and indicates those that are in place in Jefferson County. Excerpts from

applicable policies, regulations, and plans and program descriptions follow to provide more detail on existing mitigation capabilities. Because many of these capabilities do not apply to non-municipal jurisdictions, information on their mitigation capabilities are described in their annexes.

Table 2-9 Regulatory Mitigation Capabilities

Regulatory Tool (ordinances, codes, plans)	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
General or Comprehensive plan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Zoning ordinance	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Subdivision ordinance	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Growth management ordinance	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Floodplain ordinance	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Floodplain Management Plan	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
Other special purpose ordinance (stormwater, steep slope, wildfire)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Building code	Yes 2018	Yes 2018	Yes 2015	Yes 2018	Yes 2015	Yes 2020	Yes 2018
BCEGS Ratings (1-10, 1 being best)	4/3	4/3	No	4/4	4/3	5/5	5/4
Fire department ISO rating	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Erosion or sediment control program	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Storm water management program	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Site plan review requirements	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Capital improvements plan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Economic development plan	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Local emergency operations plan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)	Yes 2012	No	No	Yes 2007	Yes 2006*	No	No
Other special plans	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
National Flood Insurance Program	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Community Rating System	Yes: 5	Yes: 5	No	Yes: 7	Yes: 6	Yes: 8	Yes: 5
Flood insurance study or other engineering study for streams	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Elevation certificates (for floodplain development)	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Regulatory Tool (ordinances, codes, plans)	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
Other

Source: HMPC. * Covered under West Metro Fire CWPP

Jefferson County Comprehensive Master Plan

Jefferson County adopted its first Comprehensive Master Plan in 1961, with the most recent update completed in 2017 and another plan update currently ongoing. Since then, master planning in Jefferson County has taken many different approaches, but all of the approaches have recognized that good planning involves evaluating a multitude of different factors when making land use decisions, such as transportation, geologic hazards and compatibility. The Land Use chapter of the Development Review section (Page 18) includes: guidelines for all development, infill and redevelopment, business and industry, housing, mixed-use, community uses, livestock, renewable and alternative energy, extractive resources, solid wastes and hazardous materials, activity centers, and site design. The Development Review section also addresses physical constraints. Physical constraints are those physical features that due to safety or cost concerns may potentially restrict where and how development occurs. For purposes of this Plan, physical constraints include geologic hazards and constraints, floodplains, wetlands, wildfire, radiation, landfills, abandoned mines, and wildlife. The overall vision projects a balance of residential, commercial, community, recreational, agricultural and open land uses, which protects and maintains the quality of the mountain and plains environment, provides economic vitality for current and future generations, respects private property rights, and maintains Jefferson County as a place of choice to live, work, and recreate.

This balance protects and maintains the quality of the mountain and plains environment, provides economic vitality for current and future generations, and maintains Jefferson County as a place of choice to live, work, and recreate. The plan identifies that location, availability and the convenience of goods and services is an important element in the quality of life, and that a balance of such key services as an educated workforce, schools, commercial services, and recreational and employment opportunities are vital. Well-planned retail and service levels provide a source of community identity. The roads, rivers, and trails that connect homes, offices, stores, schools, and parks are the conduits for social interaction that knit together a community. Ensuring that residential areas are balanced by commercial and service centers can contribute to an orderly pattern of development and sense of place.

The general land use management goal is to encourage diversity of residential, commercial, community, recreational, and open land uses. The plan identifies Urban and Non-Urban Interface development with an objective to accommodate higher intensity uses in areas with adequate infrastructure and minimal hazards and provide decreasing land use intensity where constraints exist and as distance to services increases. There are policies that protect important wildlife habitats and avoid development or mitigate impacts in severe wildfire areas, such as steep forested canyons and slopes greater than 30%. The plan includes provisions for infill and redevelopment, which supports adaptive reuse of historical and outdated buildings; and future growth, which complements the existing community character with efforts to accommodate anticipated growth in the Denver metro area over the next 30 years. The policy states that the County should incorporate land planning techniques that manage resources effectively.

In addition, the Comprehensive Master Plan includes goals and policies oriented towards several long- range planning issues to guide the County’s future growth and development. One such issue is environmental stewardship. This section integrates hazard mitigation with the goal to “protect people and property from hazardous conditions and events”, which includes specific policies intended to mitigate the impacts of geologic hazards, flood, wildfire, and hazardous materials. Other goals and policies seek to support water conservation measures which supports mitigation of drought risk, such as the goal to “promote the education of residents, businesses, and appropriate agencies about water issues affecting the County”.

The Water Quality policy implements State law (CRS 30-28-133(3)) which requires that local governments “shall not approve an application for a development permit unless…the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposed water supply will be adequate.”

The ongoing update to the comp plan will further these efforts by specifically including water usage policies based on input from the public in 2019.

Building Codes

The Jefferson County Building Department enforces building codes in Jefferson County. Listed below are the codes effective January 2019.

2018 International Building Code

2018 International Residential Code

2018 International Fuel Gas Code

2018 International Mechanical Code

2018 International Plumbing Code

2018 International Existing Building Code

2018 International Energy Conservation Code

2020 National Electrical Code

In addition, the County has adopted an addendum to the 2018 Jefferson County Code Supplement - Appendix Z - Special Building Construction Regulations in Wildfire Zone 1 - Effective Date January 1, 2020. All adopted building codes can be accessed at Local fire districts have individual authority to enforce fire code standards beyond the County’s requirements.

Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria: The updated Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria for 2018 includes building standards for wind design (including wind speeds, special wind regions, and wind- borne debris), snow load, seismic design, temperature extremes, and flood hazards. The code contains provisions for additional criteria to be established by the local jurisdiction.

Wildfire: Jefferson County has two wildfire hazard overlay zones that have mitigation requirements for construction. The wildfire hazard overlay zones line generally follow what is called the “mountain front.” The State Forest Service concurs that this line indicates the predominant change from plain to mountain topography. The canyons are within wildfire zone 1 because of the chimney-effect of the terrain. The location of the wildfire zone line recognizes vegetation, slope, fire department accessibility, water supply, response time and infrastructure.

R901.1.1.1 Buildings located in more than one Wildfire Zone: A building or structure which is located partly in one Wildfire Zone and partly in another shall be considered to be in the Wildfire Zone in which more than one-half of its total floor area is located.

R901.1.1.2 Moved buildings: Any building or structure moved within or into any Wildfire Zone shall be made to comply with all the requirements for new buildings in that Wildfire Zone.

R901.1.2.1 General: Buildings hereafter erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired or moved into Wildfire Zone 1 shall comply with the following: 2015 IRC Supplement Jefferson County, Colorado Page 20 of 35

R901.1.3.2 Roof coverings, material Zone 2: Except where this code requires greater protection, roof coverings for new buildings, structures or additions, roof coverings utilized for re-roofing shall be Class A, Class B or Class C, or any other roof covering permitted by this code.

Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs)

In addition to the building codes and wildfire zones, the County has a number of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) that assess wildfire risk and provide specific recommendations for mitigation based on scientifically sound wildfire management principles. In general, these plans are consistent with the National Fire Plan (2000) and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (2003) both of which are federal level frameworks for wildfire hazard evaluation and strategic planning. There are several plans which are undergoing an update as of the drafting of this plan.

The following jurisdictions and communities in Jefferson County have CWPPs in place:

Slash Collection Program

Slash is debris, from nature, such as tree limbs, pruning’s and pine needles. If not removed, slash can add to potential fire hazards. Wildfires have become more common in Jefferson County and clearing this debris can prevent fire damage to structures and spread of wildfire. In 2015, the County expanded its slash collection program which helps homeowners to mitigate fire risk by collecting and removing loads of slash at predetermined collection sites around the County. The cost to drop off a single truckload is $20 (2015) and is used to partially cover the administrative costs of the program. Locations and dates of collection sites are updated and posted at: https

Foundations and Soils Investigation

The Designated Dipping Bedrock Area is determined by the Planning and Zoning Department. The building codes identify specific pier length, as well as diameter and support penetration for building in dipping bedrock areas. The codes also identify specifications for foundation walls and structural basement floors.

Flood Loads

Planning and Zoning Department approval required pursuant to other County regulations.

Floodplain Management

In accordance with the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 and the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, Jefferson County has applied and subsequently qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. Jefferson County joined the NFIP on August 5, 1986 and the Community Rating System (CRS) on October 1, 2005. Detailed information on the Jefferson County and its communities’ participation in CRS can be found below in Section

The County requires developments that impact floodplains to comply with the floodplain regulations of the Zoning Resolution and Regulation. Although in many circumstances it may be desirable to leave the floodplain in its natural state, it is evident that development in areas encumbered by floodplains often results in alterations within the floodplain limits. The County has adopted floodplain regulations as part of its Zoning Resolution and Regulation. These regulations should be referenced when alterations within floodplains are proposed.

Stormwater Management

Jefferson County is responsible for the stormwater quality that drains from property into the storm sewer system and discharges to state waters. As part of the Stormwater Phase II Regulations, Jefferson County must apply to the State of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. The five-year permit was first granted to Jefferson County in March 2003. Under this permit, Jefferson County is mandated to improve the quality of stormwater.

Jefferson County has created stormwater management regulations. These regulations together with all future amendments are known as the “Jefferson County Storm Drainage Design and Technical Criteria” adopted March 24th, 2009 and referenced in the Jefferson County Land Development Regulation. The criteria apply to all lands within the unincorporated areas of the County, including all public lands. A revision to this document was published on December 17, 2019. Policies and technical criteria not specifically addressed in these criteria will follow the provisions of the Mile High Flood District “Urban Storm Drainage Criteria Manual.”

Stormwater runoff is a by-product of urbanization. Drainage planning is required for all new developments. These plans define major drainage facilities, including those that are required public improvements for new developments. Drainage reports and plans, construction drawings, specifications, and as-built information will be submitted and approved as required by the Regulation and Building Permit Procedure. AutoCAD example drawings are available from the County at:

For drainage basins less than five square miles, a two-hour storm distribution without area adjustment of the point rainfall values will be used for the Colorado Urban Hydrograph Profile. For drainage basins between five and ten square miles, a two-hour storm distribution is used but the incremental rainfall values are adjusted for the large basin area in accordance with suggested procedures in the NOAA Atlas for Colorado.

Wildfire Hazard Overlay District Zoning Resolution – Section 39 of Jefferson County Zoning Resolution (2020)

This District is intended to promote the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Jefferson County, minimize the risk of loss of life and property in Wildfire Hazard Overlay Zone District; encourage and regulate prudent land use in the Wildfire Hazard Overlay Zone District so as not to increase the danger to the public health, safety and property; reduce the demands for public expenditures for relief and protection of structures and facilities permitted in the Wildfire Hazard Overlay Zone District; regulate buildings and structures so as to minimize the hazard to public health, safety, welfare, and to public or private property.

No building permit may be issued for a new dwelling, the replacement of an existing dwelling, or for additional space of 400 square feet or more (cumulatively measured) from May 21, 2002, the date of this regulation’s adoption, until written evidence has been submitted and approved by the Zoning Administrator or his/her appointed designee stating that the following have been satisfied:

Defensible space and associated fuel break thinning’s have been created around the dwelling, or a wildfire mitigation site plan has been reviewed and a special exception granted by the Board of Adjustment for the property for which a building permit has been requested.

Access standards as specified in the General Provisions and Regulations section of the Zoning Resolution have been satisfied.

Grading, Erosion, and Sediment Control Regulation – Section 17 of the Jefferson County Land Development Regulation

Grading, erosion, and sediment control plans shall be submitted as required by the Submittal Requirements Section in accordance with the following standards.

The existing and final contours shall be shown at 2-foot intervals for subdivisions within the plains area and contours at 5-foot intervals for subdivisions within the mountain areas including the method utilized to obtain all contour intervals. Contours shall be accurate to within 0.5 contour. Elevations shall be based on USGS sea level datum. The USGS quad maps shall not be accepted as evidence for topographic contours.

Grading, erosion and sediment control plans shall be prepared in accordance with and in compliance with the standards in the Land Disturbance Section of the Zoning Resolution.

Grading, erosion and sediment control plans must include the following:

− Plans for all private and public streets/roads in accordance with the Roadway Design and Construction Manual and the Circulation Section.

− Conceptual driveway plans if existing slopes exceed 30%.

− Overlot grading plans for all non-residential, multi-family, manufactured home developments, and single-family residential developments with lot sizes under ½ acre. Overlot grading plans are not required for single-family residential lots over ½ acre in size if the developer is not proposing Overlot grading, grading is not required and/or shown on the drainage plan, and the slopes in the buildable areas do not exceed 30%. Overlot grading plans must be consistent with the grading and basin boundaries shown on the drainage plan.

− Plans for all drainage improvements including but not limited to detention/ water quality facilities, drainage channels, storm sewer, and outlet protection.

− Grading, erosion and sediment control plans for each lot in residential developments with lot sizes under ½ acre shall be prepared in accordance with and in compliance with the Notice of Intent standards in the Land Disturbance Section of the Zoning Resolution.

Approvals: The Planning and Zoning Division shall approve the plans prior to development approval. The Jefferson Conservation District shall approve the seed mix and mulching rates.

The intent of these specifications is to ensure excavation and grading occur according to the approved plan and to establish minimum materials, methods, and standards to be used in the construction of site grading fills for support of residences and other structures, embankments or excavations for streets, roads, drainage channels, structures, or other purposes. The work covered by these specifications includes excavation, embankment, grading, compaction, clearing and grubbing, removal of topsoil, trees, stumps, vegetation, removal and/or resetting of minor obstructions, and any other work incidental to the construction of site grading fills.

Geologic and Geotechnical Regulations – Section 25 of the Jefferson County Land Development Regulation

The geologic and geotechnical standards were adopted to protect lots, tracts, and structures from geologic hazards, including, but not limited to, dipping bedrock, rockfall, potentially unstable slopes, swelling soils, and subsidence. Buildable areas within lots, tracts, and areas designated for streets/roads and drainage improvements shall be:

Reasonably free from geologic hazards or adequately mitigated from geologic hazards.

Free of adverse soil conditions, constructed away from adverse soil conditions, or constructed in areas where adverse soil conditions have been abated.

All areas which fall within the Dipping Bedrock Overlay District shall be subject to the restrictions in the Dipping Bedrock Overlay District of the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution.

Detailed grading plans shall be submitted which show overburden soil or fill at least ten (10) feet thick beneath the anticipated level of the bottom of the structure foundation(s) and the top of bedrock. If deep (pier) foundations are proposed, the Zoning Administrator may require a review of such plans by the Engineering Advisory Board.

Or: If ten (10) feet of overburden or fill are not proposed, detailed engineering plans shall be submitted to the Engineering Advisory Board. The alternate mitigation plans shall contain the information necessary to determine that potential hazards can be adequately mitigated by other methods.

Land Disturbance Regulation – Section 16 of the Jefferson County Zoning Resolution

The purpose of the Land Disturbance Section is to:

Enhance the quality of water in the County’s drainage ways and surface waters;

Protect life, property, and the environment from loss, injury, and damage by stormwater runoff, erosion, sediment transport, ponding, flooding, landslides, accelerated soil creep, settlement and subsidence, excessive dust, and other potential hazards caused by grading, construction activities, and denuded soils;

Allow a temporary land use for land disturbance activities; and

Establish performance standards to:

− Define grading, drainage, erosion and sediment control, and waste disposal requirements;

− Ensure mitigation of adverse impacts; and (orig. 10-12-04)

− Ensure the reclamation of disturbed land. (orig. 10-12-04)

All land disturbance activities must conform to the performance standards as detailed in this Section. These standards apply whether or not a grading permit or Notice of Intent is required.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to do or authorize any land disturbance in the unincorporated area of Jefferson County without first obtaining a grading permit from the County or submitting a Notice of Intent to the County to authorize temporary land disturbance activities unless specifically exempted by this section. The applicant, the landowner, and the contractor are responsible if a land disturbance activity is undertaken in contravention of the performance standards, or if a land disturbance activity is undertaken beyond the scope of the grading permit or Notice of Intent without County approval. Land disturbance activities must be completed in compliance with the approved plans.

Roadway Design and Construction Regulations

Jefferson County has adopted a Major Thoroughfare Plan based on traffic volumes, existing land use and anticipated growth. The Major Thoroughfare Plan designates streets/roads as freeway, parkway, arterial (principal and minor), or collector.

Jefferson County has also adopted a Roadway Design and Construction Manual (2009) that provides geometric standards for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roadway and transportation facilities. The County also supplies AutoCAD format drawings for template examples on the County website.

Administrative/Technical Mitigation Capabilities

identifies the County personnel responsible for activities related to mitigation and loss prevention in Jefferson County.

Table 2-10 Administrative and Technical Mitigation Capabilities

Personnel Resources	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
Planner/engineer with knowledge of land development/land management practices	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Planner/engineer/scientist with an understanding of natural hazards	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Resiliency Planner	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Transportation Planner	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Engineer/professional trained in construction practices related to buildings and/or infrastructure	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Personnel skilled in GIS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Full time building official	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Floodplain manager	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Emergency manager	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Grant writer	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No

Personnel Resources	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
Other personnel	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
GIS Data Resources (Hazard areas, critical facilities, land use, building footprints, etc.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mass/Emergency Notification Systems (Reverse 9-11, etc.)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other	Sustainability Coordinator, Operations Coordinator (assigned to emergency ops, stormwater, debris management) & Forester (Forest health and fuel mitigation)			Homeless Navigator – Homeless liaison to mitigate and facilitate impacts to the homeless population		Town Clerk	Parks & Recreation and Public Works Staff

Source: HMPC

Fiscal Mitigation Capabilities

identifies financial tools or resources that the County and municipalities have used in the past to fund mitigation activities, and highlights resources that may not have been used but are available for future use.

Table 2-11 Financial Capabilities That Have Been Used to Fund Mitigation Activities

Financial Resources	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
Community Development Block Grants	Yes	Yes	No, but available	No, but available	No, but available	Yes	Yes
Capital improvements project funding	Yes	Yes	Yes	No, but available	No, but available	Yes	Yes
Authority to levy taxes for specific purposes	Yes	No	No, but available	No, but available	No, but available	Yes	Yes
Fees for water, sewer, gas, or electric services	No	Yes	Yes	No, but available	No, but available	Yes	No
Stormwater Service Fees	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Impact fees for new development	Yes	Yes	No	No, but available	No	Yes	Yes

Financial Resources	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
Incur debt through general obligation bonds	Yes	No	No, but available	No, but available	No, but available	Yes	Yes
Incur debt through special tax bonds	Yes	No	No, but available	No, but available	No	Yes	Yes
Incur debt through private activities	No	Yes	No	No, but available	No	Yes	Yes
Withhold spending in hazard prone areas	No	No	No	No, but available	No	Yes	No

Source: HMPC

Other Mitigation Efforts

Public Education and Outreach

Successful sustained mitigation depends upon robust collaboration between the public and private sector, different levels of government, municipal jurisdictions, departments, agencies, and community groups within Jefferson County. The participating jurisdictions have several active public education programs to educate the public about hazards and actions they can take to mitigate against those hazards, as shown in

Table 2-12 Education & Outreach Capabilities

Education & Outreach Capabilities	Jefferson County	Arvada	Edgewater	Golden	Lakewood	Morrison	Wheat Ridge
Local Citizen Groups That Communicate Hazard Risk	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Firewise	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
StormReady	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Other?		Yes1,2			Yes2	Yes3	No

Notes: 1- Ready, Set, Go! Program; 2 –Community Emergency Response Team (CERT); 3 – Annual Public Works pick up slash and limbs for residents free of charge, Annual Town Clean-Up Day where access to dumpsters is provided to residents free of charge for the disposal of any/all trash including tree limbs, etc.

Wildland Risk Reduction Task Force

To ensure a thoughtful, collaborative approach to addressing the risk of wildfires in Jefferson County, in November 2019 the Board of County Commissioners established the Jefferson County Wildfire Risk Reduction Task Force. Members represent community leaders, fire rescue districts, county government, law enforcement, business, forestry, water districts, and others – as well as geographic diversity. After in- depth discussion and a prioritization process, task force members identified three goals:

Mitigation

Community education (to raise awareness about mitigation)

Revenue streams (to fund more mitigation)

Other issues such as fire suppression, evacuation routes and emergency notification also were raised.

The Task Force’s recommendations report Working Together to Reduce the Risk of Wildfire in Jefferson County released on November 10, 2020, opens by noting that “Investment upfront in mitigation and community education can save lives, property and firefighting costs later.” The Task Force Mitigation Team identified defensible space and forest management as key mitigation activities, and made a number of recommendations. Implementing these recommendations has been adopted as Objective 3g, and several recommendations been incorporated into the Mitigation Action Plan in Section

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and the Community Rating System (CRS)

Jefferson County has been mapped for flood hazards and participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Details of local jurisdiction participation status, policy and claims data from the NFIP’s Community Information System (CIS) are shown in

Table 2-13 Communities Participating in the FEMA NFIP

CID	Community	Initial FIRM Identified	Current Effective Map Date	Policies in Force	Total Coverage	# of Claims Paid	Total Losses Paid
080087	Jefferson County	08/05/1986	01/15/2021	409	$111,193,700	138	$1,407,173
085072	City of Arvada	07/01/1974	01/15/2021	359	$95,813,400	71	$66,412
080089	City of Edgewater	08/15/1989	02/05/2014	32	$8,709,500	27	$51,637
080090	City of Golden	05/18/1985	12/20/2019	88	$25,874,000	14	$48,938
085075	City of Lakewood	12/31/1974	02/05/2014	344	$104,242,800	157	$649,523
080092	Town of Morrison	12/01/1982	02/05/2014	7	$2,481,300	2	$1,232
085079	City of Wheat Ridge	05/26/1972	02/05/2014	219	$54,870,100	45	$97,251
Total	Total	Total	Total	1,458	$403,184,800	454	$1,022,166

Source: FEMA, Current as of April 1, 2021

In addition to participating in the NFIP, Jefferson County, the Cities of Arvada, Golden, Lakewood, and Wheat Ridge, and the Town of Morrison all participate in the Community Rating System (CRS). CRS is a voluntary program for NFIP participating communities focused on reducing flood damages to insurable property and encouraging a comprehensive approach to floodplain management. The CRS provides incentives in the form of insurance premium discounts to communities that go above and beyond the minimum floodplain management requirements and develop extra measures to reduce flood risk. There are 10 CRS classes, and the classification determines the insurance premium discount for policyholders, as shown in

Table 2-14 CRS Premium Discounts

Class	Discount	Class	Discount	SFHA (Zones A, AE, A1-A30, V, V1-V30, AO, and AH): Discount varies depending on class. SHFA (Zones A99, AR/A, AR/AE. AR/A1-A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO): 10% discount for Classes 1-6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. Non-SFHA (Zones B, C, X, D): 10% discount for Classes 1- 6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. In determining CRS premium discount, all AR and A99 Zones are treated as non-SFHAs.
1	45%	6	20%	SFHA (Zones A, AE, A1-A30, V, V1-V30, AO, and AH): Discount varies depending on class. SHFA (Zones A99, AR/A, AR/AE. AR/A1-A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO): 10% discount for Classes 1-6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. Non-SFHA (Zones B, C, X, D): 10% discount for Classes 1- 6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. In determining CRS premium discount, all AR and A99 Zones are treated as non-SFHAs.
2	40%	7	15%	SFHA (Zones A, AE, A1-A30, V, V1-V30, AO, and AH): Discount varies depending on class. SHFA (Zones A99, AR/A, AR/AE. AR/A1-A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO): 10% discount for Classes 1-6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. Non-SFHA (Zones B, C, X, D): 10% discount for Classes 1- 6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. In determining CRS premium discount, all AR and A99 Zones are treated as non-SFHAs.
3	35%	8	10%	SFHA (Zones A, AE, A1-A30, V, V1-V30, AO, and AH): Discount varies depending on class. SHFA (Zones A99, AR/A, AR/AE. AR/A1-A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO): 10% discount for Classes 1-6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. Non-SFHA (Zones B, C, X, D): 10% discount for Classes 1- 6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. In determining CRS premium discount, all AR and A99 Zones are treated as non-SFHAs.
4	30%	9	5%	SFHA (Zones A, AE, A1-A30, V, V1-V30, AO, and AH): Discount varies depending on class. SHFA (Zones A99, AR/A, AR/AE. AR/A1-A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO): 10% discount for Classes 1-6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. Non-SFHA (Zones B, C, X, D): 10% discount for Classes 1- 6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. In determining CRS premium discount, all AR and A99 Zones are treated as non-SFHAs.
5	25%	10	—	SFHA (Zones A, AE, A1-A30, V, V1-V30, AO, and AH): Discount varies depending on class. SHFA (Zones A99, AR/A, AR/AE. AR/A1-A30, AR/AH, and AR/AO): 10% discount for Classes 1-6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. Non-SFHA (Zones B, C, X, D): 10% discount for Classes 1- 6; 5% discount for Classes 7-9. In determining CRS premium discount, all AR and A99 Zones are treated as non-SFHAs.

Source: FEMA CRS Coordinators Manual

All CRS participating communities start out with a Class 10 rating (which provides no premium discount). Class 1 requires the most credit points and offers the largest premium discount. Within the CRS program,

there are 18 activities recognized as measures for eliminating local exposure to flooding. Credit points are assigned to each activity, which have been organized under four main categories:

Public Information

Mapping and Regulation

Flood Damage Reduction

Flood Preparedness

The participating communities and their relative CRS classes and discounts are summarized in below. Since 2010, the County has made significant progress in implementing flood capabilities, which is reflected in the updated Community Rating System (CRS) classification. Unincorporated Jefferson County went from CRS 9 to 6 in 2014, a 3 class increase which results in a 20% discount (previously 5%) for flood insurance policies in SFHA, and 10% premium reduction (previously 5%) for non-SFHA policies.

Table 2-15 Current CRS Participation and Summary Information

Community	Current Rating	Policies	Total Premiums	Discount	Current Annual Saving
Jefferson County	5	409	$373,384	25%	$82,904
Arvada	5	359	$491,302	25%	$138,434
Wheat Ridge	5	219	$237,721	25%	$62,731
Lakewood	6	344	$339,271	20%	$57,588
Golden	7	88	$90,692	15%	$12,041
Morrison	8	7	$61,036	10%	$6,782

Source: FEMA CRS

Code RED

Jefferson County participates in the Code RED emergency communications network which is a service that places calls, texts and/or emails to subscribers within the direct path of the storm in the event of a severe weather alert from the National Weather Service. Notifications are sent in an effort to provide residents extra time to prepare that could save lives. Types of alerts include tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, flash flood warnings, tsunami warnings and winter storm warnings.

Opportunities for Enhancement

Based on the capability assessment, Jefferson County has several existing mechanisms in place that already help to mitigate hazards, including numerous planning tools and many available funding mechanisms. The tables above show a consistently high level of capabilities across the County and participating jurisdictions, to include adoption of building codes, floodplain regulations, and CRS participation.

There are also opportunities for the County to expand or improve on its capability to further protect the community. Opportunities include the continuation of incorporating updated risk information into updates of the County’s Comprehensive Plan and other regulatory documents. As well as ensuring risk information is taken into consideration in the Land Use Code updates and during the development review process. Jefferson County has a very active Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), which can help coordinate mitigation goals and programs.

The HMPC recognizes that lack of implementation of the 2016 Plan over the past five years has limited the effectiveness of a sustained mitigation program. The County and jurisdictions have committed to improving this going forward, as described in Section

An additional opportunity for capability enhancement includes leveraging ongoing recovery efforts to implement a focus on working with impacted community members to further identify ways to create equitable processes and policies for disaster management and decrease barriers to resources for marginalized and underserved communities that are traditionally disproportionately affected by a crisis.

Another opportunity being considered to reduce flood losses is for jurisdictions within Jefferson County that participate in the Community Rating System (CRS) to work towards increasing their rating. As discussed in there are already several jurisdictions, including Jefferson County, who are participants in the CRS program. For each jurisdiction, the annual savings to their flood insurance policyholders is shown in above.

shows the potential annual savings to policyholders for each CRS Rating, along with the current ratings and savings for comparison. Improving a communities standing in the CRS program must be based on balancing those benefits against the staff time and jurisdictional commitments required to achieve and maintain certification, however, as summarized below the potential savings for each community could be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Table 2-16 Potential Benefits of CRS Ratings By Jurisdiction

Community	Class 9 Annual Savings	Class 8 Annual Savings	Class 7 Annual Savings	Class 6 Annual Savings	Class 5 Annual Savings	Class 4 Annual Savings	Class 3 Annual Savings	Class 2 Annual Savings	Class 1 Annual Savings
Jefferson County	$18,096	$33,667	$49,237	$67,333	$82,904*	$98,475	$114,046	$129,617	$145,187
Arvada	$28,706	$55,713	$82,720	$111,427	$138,434*	$165,441	$192,448	$219,455	$246,462
Edgewater	$2,589	$4,927	$7,264	$9,853	$12,190	$14,528	$16,865	$19,202	$21,539
Golden	$4,505	$8,273*	$12,041	$16,546	$20,314	$24,082	$27,850	$31,617	$35,385
Lakewood	$15,200	$28,794	$42,388	$57,588*	$71,182	$84,776	$98,369	$111,963	$125,557
Morrison	$3,391	$6,782*	$10,173	$13,564	$16,954	$20,345	$23,736	$27,127	$30,518
Wheat Ridge	$13,986	$25,572	$37,159	$51,145	$62,731*	$74,318	$85,904	$97,491	$109,077

Source: FEMA, as of 4/19/2021; * indicates current savings based on 2020 CRS status.