DR-4399-FL Public Notice 001

Notice Date

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its decision to provide assistance to applicants through the Individual and Households Program by placing transportable temporary housing units (TTHU) on Veterans Memorial Park in Port St. Joe, Florida. The initial public notice was published October 11, 2018, and provided a 3-day comment period pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 9.8.

Under major disaster declaration FEMA-4399-DR-FL signed by the President on October 11, 2018, and as amended through October 29, 2018, FEMA is authorized to provide direct temporary housing assistance under the Individuals and Households program for the counties of Bay, Calhoun, Gadsden, Gulf, and Jackson.

An initial disaster‐wide Public Notice was published October 11, 2018 for Hurricane Michael. Comments and other information received were fully evaluated by FEMA along with evaluation of social, economic, environmental, and safety considerations. This notice serves as a project-specific notice for FEMA’s funding action.

In order to best serve survivors of the flooding associated with Hurricane Michael, FEMA intends to install TTHUs at Veterans Memorial Park in Port St Joe, if no practicable alternatives outside mapped floodplains are available. Any delay in licensing survivors into safe, secure and sanitary housing at the first opportunity will cause undue hardship. Placing TTHUs will enable eligible residents in this area to move from FEMA’s transitional sheltering programs to a longer-term temporary housing solution while their primary dwellings are made habitable. FEMA has determined the best course of action is to place TTHUs on a homeowner’s property where feasible.

This action will ensure that the homeowner will be able to safeguard their dwelling while it stands empty; be able to carry out repairs to the damaged dwelling with a minimum amount of inconvenience; remain within their community for social and economic sustenance; and be able to retain living patterns with minimal interruption and hardship. When placement of a TTHU on a homeowner’s property is not feasible, a TTHU may be placed on a commercial or group site. All TTHU installations will meet the manufacturer’s specifications and comply with local floodplain requirements, along with all other applicable federal, state, local or tribal laws, regulations and Executive Orders.


1. FEMA considered the following significant factors in making this determination:

  • a) Other available temporary housing resources outside the floodplain
  • b) Proximity to schools, places of worship and habitual life patterns (shopping, social interaction, etc.)
  • c) Security of damaged property (appearance of abandonment, inviting looting)
  • d) Reasonable commuting time and distance to work/school/worship/social interaction
  • e) Preference of survivor when presented temporary housing options and the survivor’s preferred placement of the TTHU to the extent possible.

2. FEMA used the following criteria to identify practicable alternatives to placing TTHUs in the floodplain:

  • a) Speedy provision of temporary housing
  • b) Potential flood risk to the temporary housing occupants
  • c) Cost-effectiveness
  • d) Social and neighborhood patterns
  • e) Timely availability of other housing resources
  • f) Potential harm to the floodplain or wetland

3. FEMA considered the following temporary housing options when making this decision:

  • a) Transitional shelter options (hotels)
  • b) Rental accommodations
  • c) Emergency repairs authorized under the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) Pilot Program
  • d) Staying with friends or family members while repairs are made
  • e) Other available temporary housing resources outside the floodplain

4. Placement of TTHUs will be made in accordance with the following provisions:

  • a) Installations are temporary and for the purpose of providing emergency temporary housing to disaster survivors.
  • b) FEMA contractors will perform the installation according to manufacturer’s specifications and will comply with NFIP floodplain management standards or any more restrictive federal, state, local or tribal government floodplain regulations.
  • c) Prior to granting occupancy permits, the building code inspector and floodplain administrator for that jurisdiction will inspect the installation.
  • d) Elevation requirements in the jurisdiction where the TTHU is being installed will be used. In cases where best available information indicates that more stringent elevation levels (beyond the locally mandated elevation requirements) are prudent, this data will be used.
  • e) Any impacts to the floodplain will be temporary and minimized to the extent possible.

Interested persons may obtain information about this specific project or a map of the affected areas by writing to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency – Region IV - EHP, 3003 Chamblee Tucker Rd, Atlanta, GA 30341-4112, or by email at FEMA‐R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov with DR 4399 EHAD in the subject line.
 

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