NOTICE POSTED OCTOBER 27, 2021
TO REMAIN POSTED UNTIL AT LEAST NOVEMBER 27, 2021
JOINT FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL PUBLIC NOTICE
10/27/2021
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Florida Division of Emergency Management have received the following application for Federal grant funding. Final notice is hereby given of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) consideration to provide funding in the form of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Funds will be provided in accordance with Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288, as amended.
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 to and to provide 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 or low-income populations.
Funding for the proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state and local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions.
Applicant:
Islamorada, Village of Islands
Project Title:
HMGP-4337-080-R Phase II - Village of Islamorada, Fire Station 20, Safe Room
Location of Proposed Work:
81850 Overseas Highway Islamorada FL 33036
Proposed Work and Purpose:
Project to include Safe Room construction to rear left corner of Station 20 facility to FEMA 361 standards to serve emergency operations center staffed personnel during severe storm events. Designed to withstand 220 mph winds and provide shelter for first responders. Designs also include dry floodproofing of Station 20 and FEMA 361 Saferoom, generator room, and fuel tank room.
Project Alternatives:
The alternatives to the project that have been and will be considered are 1) the no action alternative and 2) seek to retrofit the current facility to meet the same FEMA 361 standards. These alternatives to the proposed project are not viable because under Alternative 1) first responders have no safe area during severe weather events and flooding of Safe Room and fire station if not alleviated would cause the needs of the community to not be served, and Alternative 2) This would require a detailed structural evaluation of the current facility, and would entail multiple, intensive structural supporting measures. Limitations of the current structure’s design would limit only select portions of the current building to be retrofitted and meet FEMA 361 standards so it would not provide adequate protection.
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 the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Bureau of Mitigation, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100. These are due within 30 days of October 27, 2021. The State will forward comments to applicable regulatory agencies as needed. Interested persons may submit comments, obtain more detailed information about the proposed action, or request a copy of the findings by contacting:
Fire Chief Terry Abel 305-664-6490
Islamorada Fire Rescue, Bureau of Emergency Management terry.abel@islamorada.fl.us
Kristen Hall, State Lead Environmental Specialist (850) 755-4583
Florida Division of Emergency Management Kristen.Hall@em.myflorida.com