DR 4734 Disaster Wide 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 damaged by Hurricane Idalia, during the incident period of August 27, 2023 - September 4, 2023, in the following declared counties: Baker, Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Duval, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Nassau, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla. An initial disaster-wide Public Notice was published on September 6, 2023. Comments and other information received were considered by FEMA along with evaluation of social, economic, environmental, and safety considerations.
This notice serves as a cumulative final notice for FEMA funded actions located within the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). 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 followed the 8-step process described in 44 CFR Part 9 to determine the overall effect to and from the floodplain of projects 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 projects that require the full 8-step process as set forth by 44 CFR Part 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
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 and 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 that a facility is designated for recreation and is not used for residential, commercial, or other functions.
This notice does not apply to projects that would constitute substantial improvement or to facilities which have been deemed substantially damaged. This 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 Order 11988 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 Part 9.12, to comment upon proposed projects in the floodplain.
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 – 4734 – Cumulative Final Public Notice at the above address within 15 days of the date of this notice.
Updated: Tuesday, October 10, 2023
