March 28, 2019
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:Lee County Board of County Commissioners
Project Title:
HMGP-4337-472-Estero High School Generator Project
Location of Proposed Work:
The area affected by this project consists of homes in the following locations:
Approximately 1,800 people will benefit from the proposed generator at Estero High School. That represents 10% of the 432,117 residents of A and B Evacuation Zones distributed evenly among Lee County's 24 proposed shelters. This structure will hold a maximum capacity of 2,104people (10 sq. ft. per person), 1,052 at standard capacity (20 sq. ft. per person) and 526 for post-impact sheltering (40 sq. ft. per person). The address of this facility is 21900 River Ranch Rd, Estero, FL 33928.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
The installation of a 250KW 480v/277v -3-phase generator with a 400-amp automatic transfer switch will ensure that the Estero High School Medical Building can be used as an emergency shelter in the event of a disaster. The
Generator project will ensure that this critical facility can remain powered during and after a significant wind event. The installation of a new generator is the most cost effective means to increase shelter capacity and reduce public safety risks during and after a disaster.
Project Alternatives:
The alternatives to the project that have been and will be considered are 1) the no action alternative and 2) County would reserve/lease a generator during hurricane season of May through November rather than purchase and install permanent generator at the facility.
These alternatives to the proposed project are not viable because under Alternative 1) No action would be no power to a shelter during a storm and mass power outage and Alternative 2) is cost prohibitive, the life of a generator is 25 years with associated fees of rental would cost county in excess of two million dollars over the life of the generator.
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 Recovery and Mitigation, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100. These are due within 15 days of this notice. 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:
David Massey
Lee County Emergency Management
Florida Division of Emergency Management