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Barlow Bend Community Action League Community Safe Room
Appeal Brief
Applicant | Alabama Emergency Management Agency |
Appeal Type | 2nd |
Project Number | 732 |
Date Signed | 2010-12-27T00:00:00 |
o The Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) submitted an HMGP project application for construction of a community safe room to be owned and operated by the Barlow Bend Community Action League in Clarke County District Four, Gainestown, Alabama, on June 5, 2008. FEMA Region IV denied the project on February 27, 2009, citing a number of deficiencies in the application including access to the facility via unimproved roads, lack of an adequate warning system, and the relationship of the proposed facility to current emergency evacuation plans. AEMA appealed on April 27, 2009; Region IV denied the appeal request citing outstanding issues with population to be protected, access and travel time to the proposed facility, emergency evacuation plans, and budget items related to the safe room. AEMA submitted a second appeal to FEMA headquarters on January 26, 2010.
• Reason for Denial
o FEMA cited a number of deficiencies in the application including access to the facility via unimproved roads, lack of an adequate warning system, and no demonstrated incorporation of the proposed facility with local emergency evacuation plans.
• Reference(s)
o MRR-2-07-1, Hazard Mitigation Assistance for Safe Rooms; FEMA Publication 361
o AEMA claimed in the 2nd Appeal that the sub-applicant addressed the points of denial.
• FEMA Findings
o FEMA HQ denied the 2nd Appeal.
o Rationale: The appeal submission did not clearly demonstrate that the intended population to utilize the safe room could safely reach the facility within the required 15-minute timeframe; deficient demonstration of an adequate warning system, incorporation of the proposed facility with local emergency evacuation plans, and feasibility of access via a series of unimproved roads within the prescribed time.
o Reference(s): MRR-2-07-1, Hazard Mitigation Assistance for Safe Rooms; FEMA Publication 361
Appeal Letter
Director
Alabama Emergency Management Agency
5898 County Road 41
Clanton, AL 35046-2160
Dear Mr. Long:
Deputy Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administrator, Mitigation
Appeal Analysis
Section B of FEMA Mitigation Interim Policy, MRR-2-07-1, Hazard Mitigation Assistance for Safe Rooms, states that the applicant will demonstrate travel times for the population to be protected to reach the safe room, such that people are not exposed to additional risk when moving to the protected area. The appeal submission does not clearly demonstrate that the intended population to utilize the safe room could safely reach the facility within the required 15-minute timeframe. The application and appeal data do not demonstrate an adequate warning system to effectively support safe room operation, incorporation of the proposed facility with local emergency evacuation plans, or how access via a series of unimproved roads within the prescribed time is feasible. It appears that the proposed project may in fact have the unintended effect of placing some portion of the proposed 1,830 occupants in harm’s way when attempting to reach the community safe room within the prescribed timeframe.