ASSUMPTIONS

Several assumptions and generalizations were made and can be refined if this BCA is submitted as part of a FEMA grant application. The assumptions and generalizations were made to provide a more conservative BCR. The costs included for each alternative were determined in accordance with FEMA standards and documentation which states what costs funding will be provided for. Relocation and redevelopment costs were not included as they would not be reimbursed by FEMA. The purpose of this BCA was to determine the scale of what FEMA would provide funding for and if the alternatives would qualify for FEMA funding by having a BCR above 1.0.

 Multiple buildings had varying uses and types due to having multiple store fronts in a single structure. The least beneficial building use and type were used to produce more conservative benefits.

 All buildings were assumed to not have an Active NFIP Policy. The in-force, active NFIP Policy number will need to be acquired and documented to account for these benefits.

 The FEMA default values were used for the:

 Building replacement value

 Demolition threshold

 Contents value

 Monthly cost of temporary space

 One time displacement cost

 One building, 195 Main Street, did not use the FEMA default value for contents due to the building being abandoned. Instead, the estimated value for contents inside the building was assumed to be zero.



For the Elevation Action in Alternative 1, it was assumed that the buildings would be acquired and demolished. The relocation of the businesses and redevelopment of the property would be part of a private investment.

 For the Acquisition Action in Alternative 2, it was assumed that the buildings would be acquired, demolished, and the property redeveloped into a greenspace. The relocation of the business would be part of a private investment.

For the greenspace in Alternative 2, it was assumed that all acquired properties’ land and the parking lot behind them would turn into a greenspace.