FEMA Approves $228,000 Grant for the City of Salem 

Release Date: August 10, 2006
Release Number: R3-06-013

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the approval of a grant totaling more than $228,000 for the City of Salem in the Commonwealth of Virginia to acquire and demolish three flood-prone residential structures.

Two of the three properties being purchased and torn down are located on East Riverside Drive , while the third is on West Riverside Drive . These properties sustained heavy damage during the severe storms and flooding of Tropical Depression Gaston, which resulted in a Presidential disaster declaration on September 3, 2004.

"Families can now move to safer ground and eliminate their risk for property loss from future disasters," said Patricia G. Arcuri, Acting Regional Director for FEMA Region III. "The demolition of these dwellings will also give local officials the ability to remove potential public safety hazards from their communities."

FEMA will pay $228,195 – 75 percent of the project costs, which total $304,260. The state or local applicants will provide non-Federal funds to pay the remaining 25 percent.

This grant is administered through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Under the HMGP, FEMA acquires at-risk properties so the former owners can afford to move to safer locations. T he community buys the private property, acquires the title and then clears it. By law, that property is now public property and must forever remain open space.

Funding is only available to applicants that reside within a Presidentially declared disaster area. The process is locally driven. Property owners interested in taking steps to reduce risks from future disasters express their interest to their municipal or county officials. If these officials decide to apply for an HMGP grant, they develop a proposal and submit it to the state.

After the state selects the proposals that meet its criteria, FEMA reviews those selections to make sure they are cost effective and in compliance with federal law. If the proposals comply with these guidelines, FEMA releases the funds to the state. FEMA is not involved in the application process nor does it select the projects.

Additional HMGP information is available at www.fema.gov/government/grant/hmgp/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, 11-Aug-2006 07:35:12