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FEMA Awards $5.3 million to the District for Additional Voluntary Home Buyouts
November 24, 2003
As part of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Harris County Flood Control District has been awarded an additional $5.3 million to apply toward a $7.2 million voluntary home buyout project. The District was notified of the grant funding by letter dated November 19, 2003. Both FEMA and the State of Texas Department of Emergency Management approved the grant funding. The grant was made to assist in disaster mitigation from the storm of October 2002. It will allow the District to acquire approximately 56 flood-prone homes in the White Oak Bayou, Greens Bayou and Halls Bayou watersheds on a strictly voluntary basis.
Homes acquired through this grant funding will be purchased using District funds, with 75% of the purchase price to be reimbursed by FEMA. The authorization to accept the grant funding is scheduled to be voted on by Harris County Commissioners Court on December 16, allowing program funding to likely begin in January. The District will be using that time to organize the priority list for acquisitions and begin contacting eligible homeowners.
The voluntary home buyout grant funding will require that the property acquired using these FEMA funds will remain open space in perpetuity.
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