20181017 DR-4393-NC PUBLIC NOTICE V2

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives final notice to the public, in accordance with Title 44 C.F.R. § 9.12, of its decision to provide assistance to applicants through the Individual and Households Program by placing temporary housing units (THU) on commercial or private sites located in or affecting a floodplain or wetland. The initial public notice was published September 27, 2018, and provided a 3-day comment period pursuant to 44 C.F.R. § 9.8.

Under major disaster declaration FEMA-4393-DR-NC signed by the President on September 14, 2018, and as amended through October 26, 2018, FEMA is authorized to provide direct temporary housing assistance under the Individuals and Households program for the Counties of Brunswick, Bladen, Carteret, Craven, Columbus, Duplin, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, New Hanover, Pamlico, Pender and Robeson. The public should note the following regarding action to place THU in areas designated as floodplain, or affecting the floodplain.

An initial disaster‐wide Public Notice was published September 27, 2018 for Hurricane Florence. 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 projectspecific final notice for FEMA’s funding action located within the floodplain.

In order to best serve survivors of the flooding associated with Hurricane Florence, FEMA intends to install THUs in Special Flood Hazard Areas in the Counties of Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Columbus, Duplin, Jones, Onslow, New Hanover, Pender and Robeson 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 THU will enable eligible residents of these ten counties 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 THU on 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 THU on a homeowner’s property is not feasible, a THU may be placed on a commercial group site, which may also be located in the mapped floodplain. All THU 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 THU to the extent possible

2. FEMA used the following criteria to identify practicable alternatives to placing THU 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 THUs 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 THU 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.

These actions will be carried out immediately after publishing this final public notice because of the emergency need to place disaster survivors in temporary housing. Interested persons may obtain information about this specific project or a map of the affected areas by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Joint Field Office, 3039 E Cornwallis Road, Building 307, Durham, NC 27709, or by email at FEMA‐R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov with DR 4393 EHAD in the subject line.