FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE – Flood Marker Installation

John Bobel

May 23, 2021

FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE

The Lexington Fayette Urban County Government has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding through KY Emergency Management as a sub-applicant.

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: KYEM
Sub-Applicant: LEXINGTON FAYETTE URBAN COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Project Title: FLOOD MARKER PROJECT
Location of Proposed Work/Date of Construction: Twelve locations throughout Fayette County that have been historically prone to flash flooding in roadway areas.

1. 3360 Leestown Rd.
2. Alexandria Dr. and Our Native Ln
3. 3500 Parkers Mill Rd
4. 2238 Young Dr.
5. 3600 Russell Cave Rd.
6. 2280 Hume Rd.
7. 200 Squires Rd.
8. 1601 N Broadway
9. Bryan Station and Hume Rd.
10. Leestown Rd and Dolan Ln.
11. Bowman Mill Rd and Old Harrodsburg Rd
12. Gainesway Dr and Tates Creek Rd.

Maps showing the area of the proposed mitigation project:

North Lexington Flood Marker Locations

South Lexington Flood Marker Locations

Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:

Proposed Work and Purpose:
The Urban County Government is requesting funds to procure and install flood warning markers and signs at 12 pre-identified locations in Fayette County. These locations have been historic sites of flash flooding during extreme downpours. Flooding is the #1 cause of disaster fatalities in the United States, and over half of flooding fatalities have occurred in vehicles. The sites identified will have flood gauge markers and warning signs installed along the roadside that will be visible to both directions of traffic.

Flood Warning Marker Sign Examples

Project Alternatives:
Alternative #1 (no action alternative): If no action is taken to install warning signs at the identified locations, motorists in Fayette County will continue to be vulnerable to sudden flash flooding during downpours.

Alternative #2: Posting Police Officers at the identified sites: This Alternative was deemed infeasible due the widespread dispersal of these sites vs. the number of officers on shift at any given time. Additionally, the inevitable demand on police resources to respond to increased traffic accidents during inclement weather further precludes this option.

Alternative #3: Automated Warning Signs: This alternative was deemed financially infeasible. Such an alternative would require expensive electronic display signs, plus a communications architecture to support them. The sporadic nature of these events does not support investment on this scale.

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 The Division of Emergency Management, 115 Cisco Rd, Lexington KY 40504. Att: Raymond Brandewie. All comments are due within 30 days of this notice.

The Urban County Government 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:

Tim Brandewie
Emergency Operations and Recovery Manager
Rbrandew@Lexingtonky.gov

POSTED ON: May 3, 2021

End of Notice