PUBLIC NOTICE FEMA–4819–DR–IL

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice to the public of its intent to reimburse eligible applicants for eligible costs to repair and/or replace facilities damaged by Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds and Flooding during the period of July 13, 2024 to July 16, 2024. This notice applies to the Individual Assistance (IA), and Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP) programs implemented under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5207.

Under a major disaster declaration (FEMA–4819-DR–IL) signed by the President on September 20, 2024, the following counties have been designated adversely affected by the disaster and eligible for Individual Assistance: Cook, Fulton, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago Counties. Additional counties may be designated later for either program. All counties in the State of Illinois are eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.

This public notice concerns activities that may affect historic properties, activities that are located in or affect wetland areas or the floodplain as determined by 44 CFR 9.7(c). Such activities may adversely affect the historic property, floodplain or wetland, or may result in continuing vulnerability to flood damage. Subsequent public notices may be published as necessary, as more information becomes available.

Presidential Executive Orders 11988, as amended, and 11990 require that all federal actions in or affecting the floodplain or wetlands be reviewed for opportunities to relocate and evaluated for social, economic, historical, environmental, legal and safety considerations. Where there is no opportunity to relocate, FEMA is required to undertake a detailed review to determine what measures can be taken to minimize future damages. The public is invited to participate in the process of identifying alternatives and analyzing their impacts through this notification.

In determining if a proposed action is in the floodplain, FEMA will identify whether the action is subject to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) (any action where FEMA funds are used for new construction, substantial improvement, or to address substantial damage to a structure or facility, and to all structure elevation, mitigation reconstruction, and dry floodproofing actions under HMGP). If the action is subject to the FFRMS, FEMA will establish the FFRMS floodplain area and associated flood elevation by using the process specified in 44 CFR 9.7(c) and FEMA Policy: FFRMS (FP 206-24-005). For actions not subject to the FFRMS, FEMA will use the 1% annual chance (base or 100-year) floodplain and flood elevation for non-critical actions and the 0.2% annual chance (500-year) floodplain and flood elevation for critical actions.

FEMA has determined that for certain types of facilities there are normally no alternatives to restoration in the floodplain/wetland. These are facilities meeting all of the following criteria: 1) FEMA’s estimate of the cost of repairs is less than 50-percent of the cost to replace the entire facility, and is less than $364,000; 2) the facility is not located in a floodway; 3) the facility has not sustained major structural damage in a previous presidentially declared flooding disaster or emergency; and 4) the facility is not critical (e.g., the facility is not a hospital, generating plant, emergency operations center, or a facility that contains dangerous materials). FEMA intends to provide assistance for the restoration of these facilities to their pre-disaster condition, except that certain measures to mitigate the effects of future flooding or other hazards may be included in the work. For example, a bridge or culvert restoration may include a larger waterway opening to decrease the risk of future washouts.

For routine activities, this will be the only public notice provided. Other activities and those involving facilities that do not meet the four criteria noted above are required to undergo more detailed review, including study of alternate locations. Subsequent public notices regarding such projects will be published, if necessary, as more specific information becomes available.

In many cases, an applicant may have started facility restoration before federal involvement. Even if the facility must undergo detailed review and analysis of alternate locations, FEMA will fund eligible restoration at the original location if the facility is functionally dependent on its floodplain location (e.g., bridges, piers, or flood control facilities), or the project facilitates an open space use, or the facility is an integral part of a larger network that is impractical or uneconomical to relocate, such as a road. In such cases, FEMA must also examine the possible effects of not restoring the facility, minimize floodplain/wetland impacts, and determine both that an overriding public need for the facility clearly outweighs the Executive Order requirements to avoid the floodplain/wetland, and that the site is the only practicable alternative. The State of Illinois and local officials will confirm to FEMA that proposed actions comply with all applicable state and local floodplain management and wetland protection requirements.

FEMA may provide IA program funding for disaster-related emergency housing. These actions may adversely affect a floodplain or wetland or may result in continuing vulnerability to floods. These actions may include repair, restoration, or construction of housing, purchase and placement of manufactured housing units, or repair of structures as minimum protective measures. This will be the only public notice concerning these actions.

FEMA also intends to provide HMGP funding to the State of Illinois to mitigate future disaster damages. These projects may include construction of new facilities, modification of existing, undamaged facilities, relocation of facilities out of floodplains, demolition of structures, or other types of projects to mitigate future disaster damages. In the course of developing project proposals, subsequent public notices will be published as necessary, as more specific information becomes available.

The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal agencies to consider the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. Those actions or activities affecting buildings, structures, districts, or objects fifty (50) years old or older or that affect archeological sites or undisturbed ground will require further review to determine if the property is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (Register). If the property is determined to be eligible for the Register and FEMA’s undertaking will adversely affect it, FEMA will provide additional public notices. For historic properties not adversely affected by FEMA’s undertaking, this will be the only public notice.

As noted, this may be the only public notice regarding the above-described actions under the IA, and HMGP programs. Interested persons may obtain information about these actions or a specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Regional Environmental Officer, 536 South Clark Street, Sixth Floor, Chicago, IL 60605, by calling Regional Environmental Officer Duane Castaldi at 312-408-5500, or by contacting Mr. Castaldi by email at fema-r5-environmental@fema.dhs.gov. Comments should be sent in writing to Darrin Rickets, Federal Coordinating Officer, at the above address. Comments should be made within fifteen (15) days of the date of this notice.