Public Notice: Public comment sought for FEMA residential reconstruction project
Posted June 15, 2021 at 8:34 am Category: Public Notice • Recovery & Resilience
As part of New Hanover County’s Long Term Hurricane Recovery Plan, New Hanover County applied on behalf of residents who requested acquisition, elevation or reconstruction of their property, that had extensive damage from Hurricane Florence. Before funding is approved for these projects, FEMA is seeking public comments. These projects are critical to help prevent future damage from hurricanes and other weather events, and residents are encouraged to provide feedback by Thursday, July 15. Below is the public notice outlining each of the requested projects and how residents can provide comments:
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – Notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) consideration to provide funding in the form of a Hazard Mitigation Grant to New Hanover County for the projects listed below as a result of Hurricane Florence.
Applicant: New Hanover County
Project Title: New Hanover County Mitigation Reconstruction project; HMGP-4543
Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of the mitigation reconstruction of one (1) residential structure located on the 6700 block of River Road in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Proposed Work and Purpose: This will be a voluntary mitigation reconstruction program. For all property owners who decide to participate in this voluntary program, the properties will be demolished and reconstructed using HMGP grant funds. The properties will be elevated in accordance with local floodplain ordinances and deed restricted in accordance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions as a means of mitigating against future flood damage and losses at these sites.
Project Alternatives:
- Alternative #1 (No action): The ‘no action’ alternative would continue to place this structure at a high risk of being affected by the floodplain. The subject property would remain susceptible to any future flooding events. The damages and risk of potential loss of life would continue to be a threat if no action is taken.
- Alternative #2 (Elevation): Due to the construction of the residence, elevating the structure would be cost prohibitive.
- Alternative #3 (Acquisition): The owners of this residential property want to remain in their home. HMGP is a voluntary program the homeowners involved with this project have selected “mitigation reconstruction” as their preference.
Comment Period: Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies, and other interested parties, in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing and addressed to:
NC Hazard Mitigation (Development)
5901 Mail Service Center, Courier #17-80-04
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-5901
– Or –
FEMA Internal 11988 Reviewer
FEMA Region 4
3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road
Atlanta, Georgia, 30341
Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: HMGrants@ncdps.gov or FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please send comments with the subject line [HMGP-4543 COMMENT].
All comments are due by no later than Thursday, July 15, 2021.
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Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives and for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives, and to provide a public notice of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide the opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).