Town of Fredericksburg
Acquisition Despite the Lack of Funds

Fredericksburg, IN - The small community of Fredericksburg lies along the Blue River in southeastern Indiana, 20 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky. With a significant portion of its development in the floodway, this community of 129 residents experiences significant repetitive flooding and consequent damage.

When a Federal disaster declaration during the summer of 1996 made Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding available, members of the community immediately sought assistance in getting people out of the way of future flooding. A major obstacle for the Town of Fredericksburg was its very limited tax base and virtually no money to contribute to a project. The townspeople achieved their goal of flood mitigation by working with their local Regional Planning Commission (RPC).

The RPC has been coordinating the HMGP and Indiana Housing Finance Authority funding for the acquisition of 29 floodway properties, including 17 residences. As a result of thorough planning, coordination, and cooperation, the town's project will allow 17 households the chance to begin anew, out of the floodway. As of November 13, 1998, there have been 13 acquisitions completed. The remaining properties were acquired by the end of February 1999.

The steady progress of this voluntary acquisition project has prompted assistance from other programs and agencies, including conservation planning from the Department of Natural Resources, as well as development of nearby Federally subsidized low-income housing funded by the Indiana Housing Finance Authority. Participants are finding relief from flooding, and Fredericksburg is taking the opportunity to develop portions of the town that lie on higher ground. Savings in avoided damage from this project is expected to be at least $1,117,300.

Standard Homeowner's insurance policies do not cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program makes Federally backed flood insurance available to homeowners, renters, and business owners in participating communities.

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