Calcasieu Parish Receives Mitigation Funding to Acquire Four Properties

September 17, 2007, NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Acquisition is an effective way to move people and property away from high-risk areas and reduce disaster losses. Project grants are used to implement mitigation activities that reduce flood losses by elevating, acquiring and demolishing or relocating National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insured buildings.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved $435,026 in funding for Calcasieu Parish to acquire four residential properties. The proposed project will reduce future flood damages, health and safety risks, clean-up costs and displacement time for homeowners.

The four properties in the proposed project are on the NFIP/FEMA severe repetitive loss list of residential structures with excessive flood losses. Acquisition of these properties will prevent potential future damages. Once these properties are acquired, the structures will be demolished and the parish will maintain the land as green space.

"It can be difficult for people to leave their home, especially one severely damaged by a disaster," said Jim Stark, director of FEMA's Louisiana Transitional Office. "Though the situation is difficult, acquisition offers homeowners the opportunity to rebuild their lives and create memories in safer places."

Since 1993, participating communities have purchased more than 20,000 properties in an effort to prevent loss from future damages. FEMA encourages all homeowners in affected communities to be sure they get all the information they need about buyouts so they can make the best decision for their families and their communities.

Acquisition projects funded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) are voluntary and homeowners are never forced to sell their property. The decision to buy damaged property is made by the local government and the property owner, not FEMA. Once an acquisition project is approved by the state and FEMA, the community uses federal funds to purchase the home or building and the land is restricted to open space, recreation or wetlands in perpetuity. The local government becomes the new owner of the property.

During the recovery phase of a disaster, local jurisdictions select projects that could reduce property damage from future disasters and submit grant applications to the state. The HMGP establishes mitigation priorities for the state and facilitates the development of applications. The plan identifies hazards, assesses community needs and describes a community-wide strategy for reducing risks associated with natural disasters. The states administer the HMGP funds. Federal law requires states and local jurisdictions to have a mitigation plan prior to receipt of HMGP funds.

HMGP funds are used to make improvements to public or private property. To be eligible, a project must provide a long-term solution to a specific risk.

The HMGP provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Source: FEMA

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