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Hurricane Florence – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

HMGP Dorian

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and North Carolina Emergency Management have received the following applications for Federal grant funding. Notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s consideration to provide funding in the form of a Hazard Mitigation Grant.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and provide public notices of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12898 also requires FEMA to provide an opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority or low-income populations.

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.

  1. Applicant: Pender County, North Carolina

Project Title: Pender County Acquisition Project

Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of potentially 10 properties located on the following streets in Pender County: Copperhead Lane, Melissa Lane, Knollwood Drive, Oakmont Drive, Shaw Hwy, Thankful Road, and Whitestocking Road.

Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Mr. Daniel Adams at 910-259-0231 or by email at dadams@pendercountync.gov.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

This will be a voluntary acquisition program. For all property owners who decide to participate in this voluntary program, the properties will be acquired using HMGP grant funds. The properties will be deeded as open space in perpetuity and will be allowed to revert to their natural state.

Project Alternatives:

The No Action Alternative will not mitigate any risks.  The entire project area would remain in danger from future flood events. Without acquiring these structures, damages and the risk of potential loss of life will continue to be a threat.

The second alternative is to elevate the structures. However, the most effective mitigation action is to remove the structures completely from the high-risk area, thereby eliminating any future risk to the structure. These homeowners prefer acquisition and complete elimination of their risk, so elevation is considered a less preferable option.

 

  1. Applicant: Pender County, North Carolina

Project Title: Pender County Elevation Project

Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of potentially 62 properties located on the following streets in Pender County: Burgaw Creek Loop Trail, NC Hwy 53 E, Canetuck Road, Shelter Creek Drive, Flake Avenue, Ballards Lane, Big Eagle Road, Lizard Lick Trail, River Bend Drive, Pinkney Road, Croomsbridge Road, Estate Road, Hunter Court, Whitestocking Road, Lands End Court, Broadwater Lane, Trixie Way, NC Hwy 210, Fontanel Lake Drive, Knollwood Drive, Thankful Road, Cove Road, Shaw Hwy, Juniper Lane, Heading Bluff Road, Brown Moore Road, NC Hwy 50, Riverbirch Road, Sandy Bend Road, Old Maple Hill Road, and US Hwy 117 N.

Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Mr. Daniel Adams at 910-259-0231 or by email at dadams@pendercountync.gov.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

The finished floors of the residential structures will be elevated above the base flood elevation with free board to reduce the impacts of flooding events.

Project Alternatives:

The No Action Alternative will not mitigate any risks.  The entire project area would remain in danger from future flood events.

The second alternative is to acquire the structures. These homeowners do not want to abandon their homes or communities and there are high up-front costs. Therefore, the most effective mitigation action is to elevate the structures in-place from the high-risk area.

Comment Period:
Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing and addressed to Pender County, Attn: Mr. Daniel Adams, or emailed dadams@pendercountync.gov.

HMGP Florence

JOINT FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and North Carolina Emergency Management have received the following applications for Federal grant funding. Notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s consideration to provide funding in the form of a Hazard Mitigation Grant.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and provide public notices of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12892 also requires FEMA to provide an opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority or low-income populations.

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.

  1. Applicant: Pender County, North Carolina

Project Title: Pender County Elevation Project

Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of potentially 82 properties located on the following streets in Pender County: Bumpy Lane, Lands End Court, NC Hwy 53 E, Shelter Creek Drive, Mallard Roost Drive, Ballards Lane, Big Eagle Road, Borough Road, Lizard Lick Trail, Hot Ridge Road, Moore Town Road, River Walk, Ivanhoe Road, River Bend Drive, Old Ramsey Road, Pinkney Road, Widow Moore Drive, Boyce Road, Croomsbridge Road, Estate Road, Watts Landing Road, Horseshoe Lane, Whitestocking Road, Broadwater Lane, Sea Manor Drive, Trixie Way, Little Kinston Road, NC Hwy 210, Fontanel Lake Drive, Knollwood Drive, Thankful Road, Cove Road, Shaw Hwy, Stag Park Road, Juniper Lane, Bowers Lane, Heading Bluff Road, Brown Moore Road, NC Hwy 50, Cape Fear Drive, George Washington Hales Drive, Old Maple Hill Road, Webbtown Road and US Hwy 117 N.

Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Mr. Daniel Adams at 910.259.0231.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

This will be a voluntary elevation program. For all property owners who decide to participate in this voluntary program, the properties will be elevated using HMGP grant funds.

Project Alternatives:

Not taking a mitigation action is an option, but not an acceptable one. The reasoning for rejecting the No Action Alternative is that doing so will not mitigate any risks.  The entire project area would remain in danger from future flood events.

The second alternative is to acquire and demolish the structures. However, these homeowners have elected elevation, thus making acquisition undesirable for these citizens and the county.

Comment Period:
Comments are solicited from the public; local, state or federal agencies; and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of the proposed project. The comments should be made in writing and addressed to Pender County, Attn: Mr. Daniel Adams, or emailed to dadams@pendercountync.gov by February 28, 2020.

 

Public Notice

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and North Carolina Emergency Management have received the following applications for Federal grant funding. Notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s consideration to provide funding in the form of a Hazard Mitigation Grant.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternatives for social, economic, historic, environmental, legal, and safety considerations. Under Executive Order (EO) 11988 and EO 11990, FEMA is required to consider alternatives to and provide public notices of any proposed actions in or affecting floodplains or wetlands. EO 12892 also requires FEMA to provide an opportunity for public participation in the planning process and to consider potential impacts to minority or low-income populations.

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.

Applicant: Pender County, North Carolina

Project Title: Pender County Acquisition Project

Location of Proposed Work: The area affected by this project consists of potentially 151 properties located on the following streets in Pender County: Ashley Lane, Branch Drive, Daniel Road, Hot Ridge Road, Hoover Road, NC Hwy 210, Lizard Lick Trail, Buckle Road, River Bend Road, Lacers Way, Hickory Hill Lane, S Holly Shelter Estates Road, Shelter Creek Drive, Little Pond Road, US Hwy 117 N, Moore Town Road, Deerfield Court, Martinez Lane, George Washington Hales Drive, Honeysuckle Road, Sportsman Drive, Pinkney Road, Beaver Trail, Copperhead Lane, Heading Bluff Road, Lucilles Place, Red Hawk Lane, Melissa Lane, Canetuck Road, Whitestocking Road, Stag Park Road, Borough Road, Horseshoe Lane, Shelter Cove Road, Burgaw Creek Loop Road, Knollwood Drive, Chorley Road, Shane Pridgen Road, Oakmont Drive, Oxbow Landing, Rattlesnake Road, River Trail, River Birch Road, Bumpy Lane, Morgan Cove Road, Shaw Hwy, Broadwater Lane, Old River Acres Drive, W Huckleberry Way, Orchid Road, Battleground Road, Rhyne Road, Croomsbridge Road, NC Hwy 11, White Tail Lane, Thankful Road, Big Eagle Road, Northeast Drive, NC Hwy 53 E, Ivanhoe Road, Ballards Lane, Woodpecker Pkwy, US Hwy 117 S, Sandy Bend Road, and Riverview Drive.

Maps of the project areas associated with the grant applications can be reviewed by contacting Mr. Daniel Adams at 910-259-0231.

 

March 23, 2021: The State Hazard Mitigation Branch has submitted Pender County’s HMGP application to FEMA for final review. FEMA has not provided a timeline for when their review will be completed. Once FEMA’s review is complete, Pender County will be notifying applicants of their status and providing an anticipated timeline for grant execution. If you have questions, please contact Daniel Adams, Pender County Floodplain Administrator, at 910.259.0231 or dadams@pendercountync.gov.

Pender Long-Term Recovery Group

For residents that are in need of assistance or who have the ability to provide assistance, please contact the Pender Long Term Recovery Group at 910-377-1185. You can learn more about this organization by visiting their website at https://www.penderltrg.com/.

We also encourage those in need of assistance to add their name to the Pender County Request for Assistance List, which is administered through the Pender County Housing Department. Pender County anticipates receiving grant funds from state and federal sources, so the County is actively preparing a list of applicants to provide to state and federal partners when these grants become available. Please be aware that these grants are directed to low and moderate income households and are long-term programs that will not provide immediate assistance. The application can be found below: Request for Disaster Assistance Form

What is Substantial Damage?

Substantial damage applies to structures located within the Special Flood Hazard Area for which the cost of repairs is 50% or more of the structure’s pre-disaster market value. For example, if the structure’s pre-disaster value was $50,000 and after Hurricane Florence the cost to repair the house back to its pre-disaster condition is $35,000, then the structure is considered substantially damaged. Please note that substantial damage only applies to the value of the structure, not the entire property.

How Does Substantial Damage Affect You?

Pender County relies on data that were collected from FEMA damage assessment teams in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence to determine an estimated cost of repairs. Based on the FEMA assessments, if you own a structure that is substantially damaged and you want to make repairs to that structure, then the structure will need to come into compliance with the Pender County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. However, if you have an estimate from a licensed general contractor that states the cost of repairs will be less than 50% of the structure’s value and provide that information to the Pender County Floodplain Administrator, then you will not need to come into compliance with the Pender County Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.

Please contact Daniel Adams, Pender County Floodplain Administrator, with any questions at dadams@pendercountync.gov or by calling 910-259-0231.

NEW: A website for local resources has been established by the Pender Long Term Recovery Group (https://www.penderltrg.com/). The website is for those that need assistance and those that want to help.

Following a federally declared disaster such as Hurricane Florence local governments are eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs (HMGP) that will reduce or eliminate the loses from future disasters. Projects must provide a long-term solution to a problem, for example elevation of a home to reduce the risk of flood damage as opposed to buying sandbags and pumps to fight the flood. In addition, a project’s potential savings must be more then the cost of implementing the project. These activities may include elevating structures in the regulatory  floodplain, acquiring  (“buy-out”) property to prevent losses, or retrofitting structures to minimize future damages.

These activities have not been activated by FEMA or the State of North Carolina and therefore Pender County is unaware of any potential funding amounts or timing of HMGP funding. Projects such as these have taken years to receive funding and are not designed to provide immediate relief from the devastating effects of natural disasters.  To be eligible to apply for HMGP, an applicant must be the homeowner and the damaged home must be their primary residence. Additionally the applicants home must be in the 100 year floodplain.  Homes that are out of the floodplain or are in the 500 year designated areas are not eligible to apply.

Examples of mitigation projects that can be funded through HMGP include, but are not limited to:

  • Acquisition: The acquisition or “buyout” of a home uses FEMA funds to purchase the structure and land from a willing homeowner. The homeowner is offered pre-disaster fair market value for their structure as determined by a certified appraiser, and the home is then demolished and the land is deeded to the local government with an open space restriction. The property must have clear title. The land must remain open in perpetuity to restore or conserve natural floodplain functions. Before the homeowner receives the funds from the selling of the home any Individual Assistance or Flood Insurance funds not used to repair the home will be deducted from the balance due to the owner as a duplication of benefit. Homeowners are strongly encouraged to keep any and all receipts for repairs they have made.
  • Elevation: Elevating a home is the physical raising (elevation and foundation retrofit) of an existing structure to an elevation at the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or higher if required by FEMA or the local ordinance. Pender County requires homes in the regulated floodplain to elevate 2 feet above the base flood elevation. The project pays for engineering to determine if the home is feasible to raise, then elevates and retrofits the foundation.
  • Mitigation Reconstruction: Mitigation Reconstruction is the construction of an improved, code-compliant, elevated home on the same site where the existing home has been partially or completely demolished or destroyed. This option is available to those with existing homes that are not feasible for elevation due to deferred maintenance or storm damage to the foundation, flooring, or stabilizing walls of the home.
    Benefit Cost Analysis: For these priority project types, the FEMA pre-calculated benefits are still in effect for properties in the Special Flood Hazard Area (i.e. “AE Zone.”) Note that properties may be aggregated in order to produce a cost effective result. North Carolina Department of Emergency Management (NCEM) will conduct benefit cost analysis to ensure maximization of eligible properties. Properties outside of the Special Flood Hazard Area (i.e. “X zone”) are being considered in this analysis; communities are encouraged to submit whether inside or outside of the SFHA and NCEM Staff will conduct Benefit Cost Analysis.

Who can apply

  • Homeowners
  • Home has to be primary residence
  • Preference is given to homes in the floodplain but all homes that have experienced flooding can apply

Criteria Used in Past HMGP (Matthew) in Selecting Applicants for grant funding

NCEM expedited criteria are:​

  • Homeowner was displaced in TSA (Transitional Sheltering Assistance) as of Feb 2017; and/or​
  • Homeowner is eligible for a FEMA Mobile Home Unit; and/or​
  • Homeowner reported to local officials or NCEM during intake they were displaced with family/friends; and/or​
  • Local government designated properties for expedited criteria based on local conditions and/or;​
  • Property was deemed substantially damaged by a local floodplain administrator and/or​
  • Property’s FEMA-Verified structural loss is greater than 50% of the Building Value (an NCEM criteria to determine any additional severely damaged structures)​
  • FEMA’s cost effectiveness criteria are:​
  • Property in 100-year floodplain that can be acquired and demolished for $276,000 or less; or​
  • Property in 100-year floodplain that can be elevated or reconstructed for $175,000 or less;

Pender County is creating a list of potential applicants when and if HMGP funding applications are made available.  Applying is not a guarantee of being approved. If your home meets the above criteria and you would like to be added to Pender County’s list please complete the attached form (https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/documents-base/property-site-inventory-form) and take 4 photos of your home (front left, rear and right) and send these to charris@pendercountync.gov.

Link to the HMGP presentation October 16, 2018: https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2018/10/HMGP-10.16.18.pdf

Acquisition (“Buy-out”) Fact Sheet: https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2018/10/Acquisition-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Elevation Fact Sheet: https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2018/10/Elevation-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Mitigation/Reconstruction Fact Sheet: https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2018/10/Reconstruction-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Understanding FEMA benefits and the duplication of benefits: https://pendercountync.gov/pcd/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2018/10/Duplication-of-Benefits-Guide.pdf

 

Additional Resources:

Crisis Cleanup

Homeowners affected by Florence who need help clearing disaster debris, tarping disaster damaged roofs, or cleaning up their disaster-damaged homes may call Crisis Cleanup at 800-451-1954 to be paired with voluntary agencies. All services are free.

Disaster Legal Services

Free legal services are available for low-income survivors of Hurricane Florence. For legal assistance, call the Disaster Legal Hotline at 833-242-3549.

Disaster Distress Helpline

If you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed by Florence, call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 any time day or night to speak with a trained crisis counselor. Or text TalkWithUs to 66746. For Spanish, text Hablanos to 66746.

Disaster Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers

Along with FEMA grants and SBA loans, farmers and ranchers are eligible to apply for emergency loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). For more information, go online to fsa.usda.gov or visit the nearest FSA office.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

If you’re out of work or lost income due to Florence, you now have more time to apply for DUA, which helps those who do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits—such as farm laborers and small business owners. To apply, call 866-795-8877. For more information, visit the state’s Division of Employment Security. The deadline to apply has been extended to Oct. 31, 2018.

Unmet Needs

FEMA works closely with state, federal, faith-based and voluntary agency partners. Survivors who do not qualify for FEMA disaster assistance may call 2-1-1, the statewide information and referral service for basic unmet needs.

FEMA FAQ-Survivors with Losses from Both Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Matthew – https://www.fema.gov/news-release/2018/10/13/faq-survivors-losses-both-hurricane-florence-and-hurricane-matthew

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