FINAL PUBLIC NOTICE
Seward County, in the state of Kansas, has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding through Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) 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, 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.
Sub-Applicant: Seward County
Project Title: KS-DR-4640-HMGP-0004; Seward County Sirens
Location of Proposed Work: Project maps are located at the end of the posting.
- Tobias Park, 430 N Grant Ave, Liberal, KS 67901 (37.04257, -100.92390)
- 11222 Highway 54, Liberal, KS 67901 (37.0580, -100.88193)
- 1491 E 8th St., Liberal, KS 67901 (37.04895, -100.90284)
- Lincoln & Walnut, Liberal, KS 67901 (37.028867, -100.923518)
Special Flood Hazard Area Zone:
The proposed work for three of the sirens will take place in an area classified as an unshaded Zone X, per FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels 20175C0342D, effective on 09/25/2009 (1491 E 8th Street); 20175C0342D, effective on 09/25/2009 (11222 Highway 54); and 20175C0343D, effective on 09/25/2009 (Lincoln & Walnut). The final site, Tobias Park, is located within a shaded Zone X, 0.2% Annual Chance Flood Hazard per FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panel 20175C0341D, effective on 09/25/2009.
The proposed locations are not located within or adjacent to wetlands per review of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetlands Inventory.
Proposed Work and Purpose:
Seward County proposes to purchase and install four (4) outdoor warning sirens and poles on easements throughout the county. To install the pole, 7.5 feet deep holes with a radius of no more than 3 feet will be dug. The sirens will be powered utilizing existing nearby electrical lines and will be linked to the Seward County siren system. This will allow for both remote and manual activation.
Project Alternatives
Alternative #1 (No action): The 'no action' alternative keeps the residents of and any visitors to the Seward County at risk during dangerous weather conditions. Many people in the community do not have weather radios or severe weather alert cellphone apps to provide them early warning of dangerous weather conditions, and the ‘no action’ alternative does not allow for broader early warning.
Alternative #2 (Mobile Sirens): Seward County could, and has in the past, used vehicle mounted sirens coordinated with the Seward County Emergency Dispatch to issue notifications and direct residents to shelter in place. This alternative places county personnel at high risk due to severe weather exposure and delays the delivery of warning while the response vehicles are dispatched.
Comment Period:
This will serve as the final public notice regarding the above‐described action funded by the FEMA HMGP program. All comments received can be submitted via email to FEMA to the Region 7 Environmental Officer Teri Toye - Teri.Toye@fema.dhs.gov. Please use the subject line: “KS-DR-4640-HMGP-0004; Seward County Sirens Floodplain Comments.”
Interested persons may also submit comments and questions in writing, by contacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region 7, 11224 Holmes Road; Kansas City, MO 64131. Written comments should be sent with the subject line KS-DR-4640-HMGP-0004; Seward County Sirens Floodplain Comments, to the above address within 15 days of the date of posting.
All comments are due by no later than 15 days of the posted date of this notice.
POSTED ON: September 18, 2023
END OF NOTICE