The Town is accepting comments regarding the Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant application for the Audubon Pond Road Residential Structure Elevation project.

Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant

The Town of Hilton Head Island has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) funding through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) 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 to, 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.

Applicant: Town of Hilton Head Island

Project Title: Audubon Pond Road Residential Structure Elevation

Location of Proposed Work:

            Address of Structure: See Table Below

A map showing the location of all properties is available by contacting (Marcy Benson, Senior Grants Administrator, 843-341-4689 or MarcyB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone: This project is for the elevation of a housing structure located in flood zone AE(8) (1 percent annual chance flood elevation). Confirmation of location in an SFHA was made by reference to the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel 450250 0502G dated March 23, 2021. The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of South Carolina and local floodplain regulations. The proposed work will be for elevation on previously disturbed ground of a housing structure and will have no effect on the local floodplain. The proposed work has the potential to be affected by the location in an SFHA. The action will be mitigated by elevation.

Proposed Work and Purpose: The Town of Hilton Head Island proposed project is for mitigation activity to reduce repetitive damage of property, prevent losses of life, and reduce the financial impact caused by flooding. The elevation of this property will mitigate the flood risk to the structure as it will result in the structure being above the base flood elevation.

Project Alternatives:

Alternative #1 (no action alternative): No action was considered for this project and deemed not an option because no action would not alleviate the potential for risk. Taking no action leaves the property at certain risk of future loss claims due to flooding.

Alternative #2: Acquisition or buyout of the property was considered and deemed not an option because the property owner does not want to sell the residence.

Alternative #3: Elevating the residential structure is the only alternative in order for the property to meet the current FEMA flood elevation and freeboard. To meet the current FEMA flood elevation and freeboard the first-floor elevation must be a minimum of 14 feet.

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 Marcy Benson, Senior Grants Administrator, at 1 Town Center Court, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 or via email at MarcyB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov. All comments are due within 30 days of this notice. The Town of Hilton Head Island 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:

Marcy Benson, Senior Grants Administrator
Town of Hilton Head Island
1 Town Center Court
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
843-341-4689
MarcyB@hiltonheadislandsc.gov