Cumulative Final Public Notice

CUMULATIVE FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to reimburse eligible applicants for eligible costs to repair or replace facilities serviced under their authority and jurisdiction damaged as a result of:

Hurricane Ian, incident period of September 23 -November 04, 2022, and under the major disaster declaration FEMA-4673-DR-FL, signed by the President on September 29, 2022; 

Hurricane Nicole, incident period of November 07-30, 2022, and under the major disaster declaration FEMA-4680-DR-FL, signed by the President on December 13, 2022; 

Florida Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding, incident period of April 12-14, 2023, and under the major disaster declaration FEMA-4709-DR-FL, signed by the President on April 27, 2023; 

Hurricane Idalia, incident period of August 27-September 24, 2023, and under the major disaster declaration FEMA-4734-DR-FL, signed by the President on August 31, 2023.

An initial disaster-wide Public Notice was published on October 18, 2022, for DR-4673 Hurricane Ian; on December 27, 2022 for DR-4680 Hurricane Nicole; on May 18, 2023 for DR-4709 Florida Severe Storms; and on October 3, 2023 for DR-4680 Hurricane Idalia.  Comments and other information received were considered by FEMA along with evaluation of social, economic, environmental, and safety considerations.

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).

This notice serves as a cumulative final notice for FEMA’s funding actions located within the floodplain and wetlands. This notice applies to the Public Assistance (PA) program implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207. This notice is to inform the public of FEMA’s intent to allocate grant funds to State, local, and tribal governments, as well as non-profit organizations for the repair or replacement of facilities within designated areas susceptible to flooding. These flood zones include A-Zones, which are areas susceptible to a 1% annual chance of flooding up to the Base Flood Elevation (BFE); V-Zones, which are the areas susceptible to a 1% annual chance of flooding with high velocity wave-action; and regulatory floodways, which are areas regulated to provide for the discharge of the base flood. Shaded X-Zones, which are areas susceptible to 0.2% annual chance of flooding, are considered with respect to critical actions (actions for which even the slightest chance of flooding is too great). In all cases, FEMA has evaluated the funding actions in accordance with the process described in 44 CFR § 9 to determine the overall effect of actions within these areas and this notice shall only pertain to those projects which were determined to be practicable.

For Special Flood Hazard Areas (A-Zones), this notice represents those actions which require evaluation of all processes as set forth by 44 CFR § 9 and in which the function is not otherwise served by a more practicable alternative.  For these types of projects, relocation or abandonment of the facilities would cause adverse social and economic impacts to the local community.  Flood risk will be minimized by all practicable means and projects would not adversely affect the floodplain or wetlands.

For Coastal High Hazard Areas (V-Zones) and regulatory floodways, this notice represents projects that meet the same criteria above.  In addition, these projects must also be functionally dependent on their location within the Coastal High Hazard Area or floodway or facilitate open-space use. Functionally dependent, in this context, means that a facility cannot fulfill its function unless it is located within the floodplain. Open-space use, in this context, means a facility is designated for recreation and is not used for residential, commercial, or other functions.   

To ensure compliance with the requirements of FEMA Policy 104-22-0003: Partial Implantation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard for Public Assistance (Interim), this notice does not apply to projects that have a substantial damage determination, require a substantial improvement, or involve new construction. The notice also does not apply to critical actions located in the A-Zone, V-Zone, or regulatory floodway.

For such projects described above, this cumulative public notice hereby fulfills the requirements of Executive Orders 11988 and 11990 as regulated by 44 CFR Part 9.12. Pursuant to Executive Orders 11988, 11990 and 44 CFR Part 9.12, final notice is hereby given of FEMA’s intent to provide funding for these projects under the Public Assistance (PA) Program.

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. This action complies with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements.

For those projects where the above criteria are not met, a project-specific final public notice will be published, allowing the public 15 days, as prescribed in 44 CFR 9.12, to comment upon proposed projects in the floodplain or wetlands.

This will serve as the final public notice regarding the above-described actions funded by the FEMA PA program. Interested persons may submit comments, questions, or request a map of this specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 4, 3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30341 or by emailing FEMA-R4EHP-florida@fema.dhs.gov. Comments should be sent in writing with the subject line “FL-4673-4680-4709-4734 Cumulative Final Public Notice” at the above address within 15 days of the date of this notice.