Public Notice Issued By FEMA On Flood Mitigation Funding For Westport

Press release from the Town of Westport:

WESTPORT, CT — PUBLIC NOTICE

Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides final notice of its decision to provide Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding for an action located in a floodplain. Funding would be provided through Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (CT DEMHS) to the Town of Westport for residential elevation projects.

The actions are located on Spriteview Avenue and Bradley Street in Westport, CT. The projects would elevate singular homes subject to repetitive flooding on each street. The houses would be elevated so that the top of the lowest floor would be raised approximately 5 feet above the base flood elevations (BFE). Flood vents would be installed within the new foundation walls. Excavation around the foundations would be required. All existing utilities would be disconnected and reconnected within the elevated house. Landscaping trees and bushes would be removed and replanted following site restoration.

The projects are within a mapped special flood hazard area (100-year floodplain). The project would be subject to elevation to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standards (BFE plus 2 feet of freeboard), thus risk of continued occupancy within the floodplain would be minimized by the additional elevation of the structure.

The projects must occur within a floodplain due to the houses’ existing location with the floodplain. Alternative actions were considered, including acquisition and no action. Elevating the home was the most practical alternative as it is most cost effective at reducing flood risk to the inhabitants of the home. Grant conditions will also require compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, including coordination with the local floodplain administrator.

Map requests and comments about these projects and potential floodplain impacts should be submitted within 15 days of the date of this publication to:

Victoria Hanley, Environmental Protection Specialist

Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cambridge, MA

victoria.hanley@fema.dhs.gov; (256) 283-7393

This press release was produced by the Town of Westport. The views expressed here are the author’s own.