Bexar County Gets $2.7 Million for Flood Buy-Out
Release Date: January 18, 2000
Release Number: R6-00-14
DENTON, Texas -- Bexar County and FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) jointly plan to remove homes and businesses from dangerous floodwaters in the Cibolo Creek area. The County wants to purchase 133 structures that suffered substantial damage from the October 1998 flood. FEMA approved a grant of $2,699,754 to pay 75 percent of the cost. The County will pay an additional $899,918 to complete the project.
Our goal is to prevent the loss of life and property from flooding when possible, R. L. Buddy Young, Regional Director of FEMA, stated. We have tried to keep flood waters away from people but that is hard to do. Helping people stay away from flood waters works better.
The buy-out is voluntary. Structures will be purchased and removed from the floodplain and the land dedicated to open space. This grant will be one more chance to save lives and property. It is an example of the federal, state, and local communities working together for a disaster resistant community. Young said.
The County applied for a grant through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (DEM). DEM will receive the money from FEMA and administer the grant.
FEMA recently provided almost $10 million to the City of San Antonio for a similar project.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 03-Dec-2003 14:07:20