FLOOD07643

• County: Statewide
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Physical and Economic Feasibility of Nonstructural Flood Plain Management Measures
• Date: 3/1/1978
• Prepared For: US
• Prepared By: US Army Corps of Engineers
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

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grade foundations pose special problems b'ecause of the difficulty of gelling lift supports under
the structure, the danger of cracking the slab, and the problems of placing it on a new
foundation. Therefore, it is generally considered to be infeasible. Row houses and apartments
pose similar problems and are not usually feasible to move,

Most commercial and industrial buildings are not feasible to move because of their size and
type construction. Often they are large and heavy with slab-on-grade foundation. Rather than
relocate the structure (assuming it cannot be flood proofed), it is usually more feasible to
remove the contents and find a new use for the structure, Similar action is sometimes taken
when the damage potential to contents is high, as with high value merchandise or machinery, In
such cases, if the contents cannot be protected in some other way they are often relocated out
of the flood hazard area.

The decision to remove structures and/or contents to a flood-free site, assuming it is
physically feasible, is usually influenced by a number of other considerations.. Relocation is less
desirable where an activity is dependent upon unique resources provided at the site, or where
there is a lack of such resources at available new sites. This could be convenience to shopping or
. work for residences, or dependence on business activity for commercial structures. Industrial
plants may be dependent upon water or land resou.rces, or a rail or highway network. I n each of
these examples relocation may be limited by the availability of comparable flood-free sites.

Costs
Costs to remove an existing structure and/or contents to a flood-free site, from the viewpoint
of a Federal agency; are of two types: Costs to acquire the existing structure and property, and
costs to provide relocation assistance. Acquisition costs depend upon the conditions agreed
upon for transfer of title. If a structure is to be relocated these costs include,

. New site purchase and preparation.

.. Moving structure to new site.

lf only contents are to be removed costs include,

. Acquisition of existing structure and site.

. Demolition of existing structure if it is not to be reused,

. Modification of existing structure as required if it is to be reused.

Relocation assistance costs apply to those items covered under Public Law 91-646, "Uniform
Relocation Assistance and land Acquisition Policies Act of 1970". These include, .

. Moving and related expenses.

. Replacement housing for homeowner.

. Replacement housing for tenants.

. Costs to convey property to the government.

Moving and related expenses include: reasonable costs for moving up to 50 miles from the
acquired property; reimbursement for business or farm items not moved; remibursement of
reasonable expenses incurred in searching for a replacement business or farm; loss of patronage
because of move to a new location (this item is in lieu of the above three).

Replacement housing for homeowners includes: an amount, which when added to the
acquisition cost, equals the reasonable cost of a comparable replacement dwelling which is

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