Orange County NC Website
9 <br /> 1 None <br /> 2 <br /> 3 6. Regular Agenda <br /> 4 <br /> 5 a. Designation of an Agent to Administer Orange County's Application to FEMA's <br /> 6 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program <br /> 7 The Board considered voting to designate an agent for Orange County's application to <br /> 8 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grants Program for <br /> 9 repetitive loss property acquisition and to serve as a sub-applicant for the University of Chapel <br /> 10 Hill to fund the installation of a generator for its Emergency Operation Center and authorize the <br /> 11 Manager to sign. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 BACKGROUND: During September 14th through 17th, 2018 Orange County was significantly <br /> 14 impacted by torrential rain and winds due to Hurricane Florence. As a result, significant flooding <br /> 15 occurred over the course of several days, and Orange County was included in the list of <br /> 16 counties that received a major disaster declaration from FEMA on October 22, 2018. (Disaster <br /> 17 number: 4393-DR-NC). Orange County is submitting a grant request for the two projects <br /> 18 outlined below: <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Project#1 <br /> 21 Despite emergency protective measures that were taken by the County, several residential <br /> 22 properties were flooded during Hurricane Florence due to heavy and cumulative rainfall. One of <br /> 23 these properties, 503 Brandywine Road (PIN 9777-20-6348) within the Chapel Hill Township, <br /> 24 sustained significant damage. Flood waters effectively destroyed the first level of the home and <br /> 25 all of its contents. Staff completed a damage assessment of the property and concluded that the <br /> 26 property sustained approximately $87,000 in damage. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 The property was developed sometime in 1971 before the County adopted comprehensive <br /> 29 floodplain mitigation standards, and it is located within an identified floodplain. This property is <br /> 30 considered to be at `high risk' for flooding, as defined by FEMA. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 Over the past 10 years, this property has suffered repetitive losses due to heavy rains and <br /> 33 flooding. Both the Planning and Inspections Department and Emergency Services Department <br /> 34 have coordinated efforts during this time period to secure the necessary funding to purchase the <br /> 35 property and remove the existing residence. Based on its flooding history, the property officially <br /> 36 constitutes a potential public safety hazard, but staff had been unable to sufficiently justify <br /> 37 requests for acquisition and removal due to a lack of significant damage. However, as a result <br /> 38 of the flooding that occurred during Hurricane Florence, staff can designate the property as <br /> 39 being `substantially damaged', consistent with the provisions of the Unified Development <br /> 40 Ordinance (UDO) and are able to justify a grant request for acquisition. Once the County <br /> 41 receives the grant funds, the County will acquire the property, contract for the deconstruction of <br /> 42 the house, and restore the property to green space. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Project#2 <br /> 45 Orange County has received a request from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to <br /> 46 serve as the sub-applicant for an emergency generator project on the University's behalf. UNC <br /> 47 Chapel Hill is seeking grant funding to install an emergency generator to support its <br /> 48 environmental health and safety facility on Estes Drive Extension, which serves as the campus <br /> 49 Emergency Operations Center. The total of this grant request is approximately $414,000. A <br /> 50 letter of request from UNC Chapel Hill is attached. <br /> 51 <br />