FM-5154-NV Initial Public Notice

INITIAL PUBLIC NOTICE: Southeast Washoe County Home Elevation, City of Reno, Washoe County, NV │ HMGP-5154-14-14

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) intends to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to the Truckee River Flood Management Authority in the City of Reno, Washoe County, NV. The proposed action would elevate three homes to at least 3 feet above Base Flood Elevation (BFE) to mitigate flood damage to these buildings. Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management) and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its intent to carry out an action affecting a floodplain.

The purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the potential for flood-related damage to homes in Washoe County. The proposed project would elevate three homes a minimum 3 feet above BFE within their existing foundation footprint. The houses proposed for elevation are located within flood-prone areas around Steamboat Creek and Boynton Slough, and in the Hidden Valley and Mira Loma neighborhoods of South Reno. Three homeowners have agreed to participate and an additional three have been selected as backup alternate locations. All six properties proposed for elevation have been damaged repeatedly by historical flooding. Home elevation involves disconnecting utilities and the home from its foundation, lifting the home and rebuilding a new higher foundation, reattaching the home to the new foundation, and restoring utility connections.

The project sites are depicted on FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) Numbers 32031C3251G, 32031C3252G, 32031C3253G, and 32031C3064G, effective date March 16, 2009. The FIRMs show five of the six homes lies within Zone AE, an area that has a 1-percent probability of flooding every year and where predicted floodwater elevations have been established.  The sixth home is in Zone X, an area outside the 500-year flood zone.

Additional information about FEMA’s proposed action, including maps depicting the potential impact on floodplains, may be obtained by writing the FEMA Region IX Environmental Officer at FEMA, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, California 94607, or fema-rix-ehp-documents@fema.dhs.gov, or calling (510) 627-7027. All requests should be received within 15 days after publication of this notice.