FEMA Approves Disaster Prevention Project in Buena Vista, Virginia
Release Date: May 30, 2000
Release Number: R3-00-Bvdizpre
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Buena Vista, VA -- Bob Shea of FEMA's Mitigation Ditrectorate, George Foresman of the Virginia Department of Emergency Services (far left) join with Mayor Harold F. Kidd (second from right) and residents in officially unveiling the community's buyout and elevation program designed to prevent future flood damage.Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA News Photo 
Buena Vista, VA -- Bob Shea of FEMA's Mitigation Directorate, George Foresman of the Virginia Department of Emergency Services, and Harold F. Kidd, Mayor of Buena Vista, discuss plans for the community's buyout and elevation project designed to prevent future flood damage.Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA News Photo |
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency today announced approval of a $1,122,246 project to acquire and demolish 10 residential structures and elevate 16 residential structures in Buena Vista, Va.
Under its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, FEMA will release $841,820 to the state of Virginia as the federal share - 75 percent - of the estimated project cost. Local and state jurisdictions will provide the remaining 25 percent.
"Hazard mitigation is a long-term process that seeks permanent solutions to the problem of repeated flooding," FEMA Region III Director Rita Calvan said. "The citizens and leaders of Buena Vista are to be commended for taking this important step toward making their community safe from future floods."
FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program aims to lessen future flood losses by several means, including the elevation, relocation or acquisition of flood-prone homes from willing sellers. The program is activated when a presidential disaster declaration is made. Under the program, interested communities develop project proposals and submit them to the state for review and prioritization. The state then sends the projects to FEMA to be reviewed for environmental soundness and cost effectiveness. Federal funds pay for 75 percent of the project cost, with 25 percent coming from non-federal sources.
As a result of disasters since January 1996, FEMA has funded two other Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects in Rockbridge County, Va. In Glasgow, FEMA has obligated $1.5 million to relocate 35 flood-prone homes, elevate 14 homes and acquire and demolish seven. In Goshen, $172,000 has been approved to elevate six homes.
Last Modified: Monday, 17-Nov-2003 14:25:07