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<br />Mitigation Strategy Report <br />FEMA-1134-DR-NC <br /> <br />State of North Carolina <br />Division of Emergency Management <br /> <br />Structures which experience repetitive flooding should be considered for elevation to reduce the <br />likelihood of future damages. Owners of elevated structures who have enclosed the area beneath the <br />original finished floor should be encouraged to remove these additions. Furthermore, the underside of <br />elevated structures should be constructed with flood resistant materials to prevent damage. <br /> <br />Acquisition/relocation or acquisition/demolition projects are mitigation measures that should be used <br />in those areas which have experienced severe or repetitive flooding. Acquisition provides a cost effective, <br />permanent resolution to the problem. A secondary benefit of an acquisition project involving contiguous <br />properties is the assembly of a large tract of open space which is committed to public ownership. <br />Typically the open space is converted to a greenway or park, A requirement of the HMGP is that <br />properties acquired with these funds must be maintained as open space in perpetuity. Acquisition of <br />impacted structures using HMGP funds must be voluntary. Therefore, local government officials must <br />meet with residents and business owners to determine whether they want to be part of the buyout <br />process. EM and FEMA will assist any community conducting discussions pertaining to the merits and <br />potential pitfalls of relocation with its citizens. If residents or business owners do not wish to relocate, <br />alternative mitigation measures should be considered. <br /> <br />. Well Water Contamination <br /> <br />Communities such as Kinston, Goldsboro, Mar-mac, and Seven Springs were faced with numerous <br />contaminated private wells. Flood waters, particularly along the Neuse River, carried sewage effluent, <br />agricultural waste, and other pollutants downstream. If not designed properly, well systems are <br />susceptible to contamination from flood waters. Contaminants leach into the underlying soil and <br />groundwater, causing potentially serious health hazards. <br /> <br />People are exposed to flood water pollution by using contaminated water for drinking, cleaning, and <br />bathing. Two actions can be taken to reduce these health risks. One, following all flood events, wells <br />should be tested periodically by the County Health Department. Two, ali counties should adopt a well <br />construction ordinance. Due to the extensive flooding associated with Hurricane Fran, the North Carolina <br />Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR) issued a well water contamination <br />warning and encouraged people to have their wells tested by their County Health Department. Because <br />contaminated groundwater may not infiltrate well systems immediately following a flood, it is important <br />to have wells tested periodically. It may take up to a year for contaminated water to show up in a <br />private well. Some counties offered free well testing for a limited time following Hurricane Fran. Wells <br />and well water can be decontaminated by chlorination (adding chlorine bleach to water). <br /> <br />Although wells are initially monitored for contamination when they are installed, North Carolina does <br />not require periodic monitoring of private well sites. The State Well Construction Act provides for a well <br />construction code, but only twenty-five counties have adopted ordinances. Proper well design would <br />significantly reduce the risk of contamination. Therefore, the remaining seventy-five counties should <br />be encouraged to adopt a well construction ordinance. <br /> <br />Much oflhe harm caused by riverine flooding is easy to identify. Other factors, such as well contamination, <br />are less easy to determine. Adequate monitoring and testing of private wells after a flood event lessens <br />the associated health risks, and the adoption of a well construction ordinance reduces the likelihood of <br />well contamination. <br /> <br />. Storm Water Management <br /> <br />Among the most requested measures among communities applying for HMGP funds to mitigate flood <br />hazards involve storm water-related projects. Of the 115 HMGP Letters of Interest which described <br />preliminary project ideas, and were filed by early December, 36 communities noted their desire to initiate <br />storm water drainage improvement projects. The high number of applicants who have requested drainage <br />improvements suggests thatlhis is a significant concern among communities in the disaster area. <br /> <br />Page 16 <br />