FEMA Awards Funding To Calvert And Salisbury To Reduce Flood Risks
Release Date: August 17, 2006
Release Number: R3-06-016
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the awarding of two grants totaling just under $59,000 to help Calvert County and the City of Salisbury develop flood mitigation plans to reduce or eliminate long-term risk of flood damage.
"I commend the county and city for taking these proactive measures to avert future damages and property loss," said Patricia G. Arcuri, Acting Regional Director for FEMA Region III. "These plans will help these communities build stronger and safer."
FEMA will pay $58,974 - 75 percent of the project costs, which total $78,633. The state or local applicants will provide non-Federal funds to pay the remaining 25 percent. Of the FEMA funding, the County of Calvert will receive $39,999.75 and the City of Salisbury $18,975.00.
FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program makes available this funding to states and communities for measures that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The program provides grants for mitigation planning, projects, and technical assistance, with a goal of reducing claims under the NFIP.
A priority of the FMA program is to fund flood mitigation activities that reduce the number of repetitive loss structures insured by the NFIP. Repetitive loss structures are those that have sustained two or more losses, each exceeding $1,000, within a ten-year period. FEMA encourages states and communities to develop plans that address repetitive loss properties.
The states serve as program administrators. They set mitigation priorities, provide technical assistance to communities applying for FMA funds, evaluate applications, and work with FEMA to approve grants and award funds to communities.
The FMA program offers three types of grants to states and NFIP communities. Planning grants, such as the ones being awarded today, are used to assess flood risks and developing plans for reducing the risks. Project grants are used to implement measures that reduce flood losses to NFIP-insured properties. Such activities include:
- Elevating structures in high-risk flood areas;
- Acquiring (and either demolishing or relocating) buildings in high-risk flood areas and returning the property to open space. Property owners are never forced to sell their property. Acquired land is owned by the community, and restricted to open space in perpetuity.
FMA funding is subject to Congressional appropriation. This funding is also provided through state allocations through the National Flood Insurance Fund. FEMA may contribute up to 75 percent of the total costs for eligible activities. At least 25 percent of the total costs must be provided by a non-Federal source, of which no more than half can be in-kind contributions from third parties.
Additional FMA information is available at www.fema.gov/government/grant/fma/index.shtm.
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
Last Modified: Friday, 18-Aug-2006 13:23:37