Ruth’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) Program funding through North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) as a sub- recipient.
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, and to provide a 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 and low-income populations. This notice may also fulfill requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
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.
Sub-Applicant: Ruth’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church
Project Title: 85188-Education Building; PW-04-NC-4393-PW-01348
89214-Contents and Equipment; PW-04-NC-4393-PW-01537
83691- Church (Sanctuary)Building; PW-04-NC-4393-PW-02429
Location of Proposed Work:
|
Facility |
Address |
Latitude |
Longitude |
Date of Construction |
|
Education Building |
2709 Oaks Road New Bern, NC 28560 |
35.12725 |
-77.06318 |
1961 |
|
Contents and Equipment |
2709 Oaks Road New Bern, NC 28560 |
Same as listed |
– |
N/A |
|
Church (Sanctuary) Building |
2709 Oaks Road New Bern, NC 28560 |
35.12759 |
-77.06353 |
1961 |
Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:
Ruth’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church intends to restore the purpose and function of their facilities by elevating structure during repairs and replacing damaged contents and equipment. All work is located in a floodway and AE zone (1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard). Confirmation of location in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) was determined by the Craven County Pending Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel Number: 3720557000K, dated 06/19/2020. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of North Carolina and local floodplain regulations. There is a potential for the facility to be impacted by future flooding events due to its location within the AE zone. The proposed work will not take place in wetlands per the United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory and will have little potential to impact or affect wetland values.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
Ruth’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church to restore their facilities to pre-disaster function. The church sanctuary and education buildings will be elevated five to six feet (to the base flood elevation, plus two feet) on sand fill in accordance with local regulations. All damaged interior elements will be replaced, including walls, flooring, electrical, heating and cooling, plumbing fixtures, doors, storage and exterior treatments, along with associated components. Elements of the structure that can be preserved or repaired during elevation process will remain part of the structures. Access ramps stairs and porches will be added as necessary for improved accessibility to the buildings. Contents purchased for continued congregational needs and will be temporarily used and stored in locations outside of the floodplain. All contents and equipment damaged during the event will be replaced in-kind, and eventually used and stored in the elevated buildings. In addition, parking area may be expanded, with additional stormwater drainage features installed to increase access and reduce effects from stormwater. The proposed repairs will minimize future flood damages and restore congregational needs for residents in the community.
Project Alternatives:
Alternative #1 (No action): The ‘no action’ alternative is not practicable. The buildings are considered substantially damaged and cannot be used or occupied. If repairs are not made, congregational needs for residents in the community would remain disrupted.
Alternative #2 (Repair in-kind): Repairing the building in-kind would not meet the current building codes regulations required by the City of New Bern for substantially damaged buildings in the floodplain. This alternative may result in similar damages from future events. If similar damages occur, it would disrupt the congregational needs for residents in the community.
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:
FEMA Internal 11988 Reviewer
FEMA Region 4
3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road
Atlanta, Georgia, 30341
Alternatively, comments may be emailed to: FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please send comments with the subject line [DR-4393-NC-01348-01537-02429 11988 COMMENT].
All comments are due by no later than 30 days of the posted date of this notice.
POSTED ON: November 4, 2020
End of Notice