The Federal Emergency Management Agency and North Carolina Emergency Management have received the following applications for Federal grant funding. Notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s consideration to provide funding in the form of a Hazard Mitigation Grant.
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and provide public notices of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12892 also requires FEMA to provide an opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority or low-income populations.
Funding for the proposed projects will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.
- Applicant: City of New Bern, North Carolina
Project Title: City of New Bern Acquisition Project
Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of potentially 19 properties located on the following streets in the City of New Bern: Hazel Avenue, Nursery Road, Devers Circle, North Hills Drive and Laurel Street.
Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Ms. Amanda Ohlensehlen at 252-639-7580.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
This will be a voluntary acquisition program. For all property owners who decide to participate in this voluntary program, the properties will be acquired using HMGP grant funds. The properties will be deeded as open space in perpetuity and will be allowed to revert to their natural state.
Project Alternatives:
Not taking a mitigation action is an option, but not an acceptable one. The reasoning for rejecting the No Action Alternative is that doing so will not mitigate any risks. The entire project area would remain in danger from future flood events. Without acquiring these structures, damages and the risk of potential loss of life will continue to be a threat.
The second alternative is to elevate the structures. However, the most effective mitigation action is to remove the structures completely from the high-risk area, thereby eliminating any future risk to the structure. These homeowners prefer acquisition and complete elimination of their risk, so elevation is considered a less preferable option.
- Applicant: City of New Bern, North Carolina
Project Title: City of New Bern Elevation Project
Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of potentially 54 properties located on the following streets in the City of New Bern: East Front Street, Fort Totten Drive, Garden Street, Pollock Street, Devers Circle, Dogwood Drive, River Drive, Washington Street, Oaks Road, Opal Street, Hazel Avenue, Ellington Street, North Hills Drive, Clark Street, Oak Drive, N First Avenue, Craven Street, Riverside Drive, King Street, Sampson Street, Hawks Pond Road, Turtle Bay Drive, Linden Street, West Street, National Court Drive, National Avenue, Chattawka Lane, Watson Avenue, Alabama Avenue, Laurel Street, North Carven Street, Queen Anne Lane, Colonial Way, Waters Street, High Street, Sandy Point Road, Simmons Street and Oscar Drive.
Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Ms. Amanda Ohlensehlen at 252-639-7580.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
The finished floors of the residential structures will be elevated above the base flood elevation with free board to reduce the impacts of flooding events.
Project Alternatives:
Not taking a mitigation action is an option, but not an acceptable one. The reasoning for rejecting the No Action Alternative is that doing so will not mitigate any risks. The entire project area would remain in danger from future flood events. Without acquiring these structures, damages and the risk of potential loss of life will continue to be a threat.
The second alternative is to acquire the structures. These homeowners do not want to abandon their homes or communities and there are high up-front costs. Therefore, the most effective mitigation action is to elevate the structures in-place from the high-risk area.
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 City of New Bern, Attn: Amanda Ohlensehlen, or emailed ohlensehlena@newbernnc.gov by December 3, 2021.