FEMA Awards $156,000 for Gloucester Elevation Project 

Release Date: August 10, 2006
Release Number: R3-06-014

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the approval of a grant totaling more than $156,000 for the elevation of three residential structures located in floodplains in Gloucester County, Virginia.

The three properties, which are near the Perrin and York rivers, sustained major damage from severe storms and flooding during Tropical Depression Gaston, which resulted in a Presidential disaster declaration on September 3, 2004.

"Acting now to reduce risk can save lives and property loss," said Patricia G. Arcuri, Acting Regional Director for FEMA Region III.

FEMA will pay $156,675 – 75 percent of the project costs, which total $208,900. The state or local applicants will provide non-Federal funds to pay the remaining 25 percent.

In an elevation project, the residential structure is elevated to a required Flood Protection Elevation (FPE). When a house is properly elevated, the living area will be above severe floods, reducing the flood risk to the house and its contents. These properties will be raised to the base flood elevation plus one foot.

This grant is administered through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to fund projects that will reduce or eliminate losses from future disasters. Projects must provide a long-term solution to a problem.

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 07:37:58