notice

Public Notice
Gibson County High School Safe Room, Hazard Mitigation Application
Website:  www.gcssd.org

The Gibson County Special School District has applied for the Federal Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Program (HMGP) funding through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) as a sub-recipient.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal actions must be reviewed and evaluated for feasible alternative 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 provide public notice of any proposed actions affecting flood plans 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 this proposed project will be conditional upon compliance with all applicable federal, tribal, state, local laws, regulations, floodplain standards, permit requirements and conditions. 

Applicant:  Gibson County Special School District
Project Title:  Gibson County High School Safe Room Project
Location of Proposed Work: 

            Name of Structure:  Gibson County High School

            Address:  130 Trenton Highway, Dyer TN  38330

            Latitude:  36.023330

            Longitude:  -88.96643 

SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD ZONE:  This project is for a construction of a multi-purpose saferoom to be constructed at Gibson County High School located in flood zone X unshaded.  Confirmation of location was made by reference to the latest Flood Insurance Rate Map, Panel 0164D, Dated 11/5/2008.  The proposed work conforms to all applicable and local floodplain regulations.  The proposed work will be for the construction of a multi-purpose Saferoom to be constructed on school district property. 

PROPOSED WORK AND PURPOSE: The Gibson County Special School District proposes the construction of a Safe Room at Gibson County High School.  The school is a rural 9-12 school with a current enrollment of 472 students and 128 staff members.  The proposed Safe Room will be a new construction within an expansion directly connected to the existing school building.  During the school day, the GCHS School Safe Room will only be available for students and staff.   The target population during the school hours will be 600 at-risk occupants, 472 students and 128 employees. During non-school hours (evening and night), the GCHS Safe Room will be open to the residential community.

PROJECT ALTERNATIVES:

Alternative #1 (no action alternative):  Under the No Action Alternative, without the saferoom students and staff from the proposed location will not have an available shelter to seek during extreme-wind events.  With the high concentration of students and staff at this location, a direct hit by a tornado or high winds could be potentially catastrophic. 

Alternative #2:  Another method was to retrofit existing classroom space; however, construction costs associated with retrofitting a shelter within would be higher than the placement of the shelter in an addition.  With the higher construction costs, the District would not be able to afford the 5% required match. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with the proposed project and is wishing to comment on this project may submit written comments to the Gibson County Special School District, contact information below.  All comments received by the close of business day on August 31, 2022 will be reviewed by the Gibson County Special School District and forwarded on to the State and FEMA.

APPLICANT CONTACTS:

Anessa Ladd, Grant Supervisor 

130 Trenton Highway, Dyer, TN  38330

Tele: 731-692-3802 or

Email:  anessaladd@gcssd.org