Notice of Application for Funding Through FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program

City of Orangeburg - Adden Street, Orangeburg County

Public Notice:

The South Carolina Office of Resilience 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: South Carolina Office of Resilience

Project Title: City of Orangeburg Adden Street Project

Location of Proposed Work: Adden Street between Riverside Drive and Windsor Street in Orangeburg, SC

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone: This project is for an upgrade to the current drainage system. This section of Adden Street is located in Zone AE (1% annual chance flood elevation). Confirmation of location in an SFHA was made by reference to the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel 45075C0356C dated January 2014.  The proposed work conforms to all applicable State of South Carolina and local floodplain regulations.

Proposed Work and Purpose:

Proposed drainage designs for Adden Street were developed for the 10-year and 25-year storms. To provide adequate drainage for the 10-year storm, an extension of the existing stormwater system along Adden Street towards both Windsor Street and Riverside Drive is needed to meet the spread requirements. The existing stormwater system also needs to be upsized to meet capacity and hydraulic grade line requirements. The upgrade to the existing systems requires that the existing valley gutters be replaced along with repairs to the existing sidewalk along the southern side of Adden Street. The existing ditch will need to be regraded to provide positive drainage from the drainage system outfall to the concrete ditch. An easement will be needed to regrade the existing ditch. The 10-year upgrades also meet the design requirements for the 25-year upgrades, so no additional upgrades are needed from the 10-year to 25-year storm events.

Project Alternatives: 

Alternative #1 (no action alternative): If no action is taken to protect homes and the public from these flash flooding events, it will increase the danger of impacts from severe flooding. Flooding of the entire street persists, causing property damage and possible abandoning of more properties, if no action is taken. Road closures and detours will persist if no action is taken. Taking no action leaves the property at certain risk of future loss claims due to flooding.

Alternative #2:  Drainage design. This alternative was chosen because the improvements do not require the purchase new right of way. Improvements convert the existing valley gutter to a closed system. The recommended project moves runoff more efficiently to the natural outfall and reduces flooding in the 25-year storm event. The proposed project also reduces roadway flooding and standing water on private property which is a direct benefit to public safety. This alternative was chosen to be implemented.

Alternative #3: Buyout of structures and properties in the project area.

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 SC Office of Resilience, Mitigation Department, 632 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201. All comments are due within 30 days of this notice.  The Mitigation Department 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:

SC Office of Resilience

Mitigation Department

Mitigation@scor.sc.gov

803-832-8004

POSTED ON: February 23, 2024

End of Notice