Additional $7.1 Million for Property Acquisitions Approved By FEMA
HARRISBURG, PA – June 8, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — An additional $7.1 million in federal funding has been approved by FEMA for property acquisitions. This is the latest round of funding to permanently remove flood-prone properties in eight hard hit Pennsylvania counties. Additional projects continue to be approved as the application process moves ahead and program requirements are met.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announcement, the funds are being obligated through its Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). Ninety four substantially damaged structures located within FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Areas in the eight counties will be torn down and demolished, returning the areas to open space in perpetuity. Property owner participation in the program is voluntary with sponsorship through their local municipality.
A summary of the approved projects and the federal cost share includes:
- Columbia County: $657,900
- Benton Township – 6 properties
- Sugarloaf Township – 1 property
- Dauphin County: $1,828,043
- Derry Township – 1 property
- Hummelstown Bureau- 5 properties
- Londonderry Township – 10 properties
- Swatara Township – 4 properties
- Lebanon County: $1,548,955
- Annville Township – 12 properties
- North Annville Township- 2 properties
- Swatara Township – 3 properties
- Luzerne County – $690,220
- West Pittston Borough – 5 properties
- Lycoming County – $392,073 – 5 properties
- Schuylkill County – $733,232
- Pine Grove Borough – 13 properties
- Susquehanna County – $101,100 – 4 properties
- Wyoming County – $1,193,703 – 23 properties
HMGP funding is made available to encourage states and municipalities to take steps that will reduce the impact of future disasters. The funding represents 15 percent of the total federal cost of the response and recovery. An estimated $66 million is expected to be available to Pennsylvania for the property acquisition program as a result of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
The project is funded 75 percent by FEMA, with an additional 22 percent from the Commonwealth and the balance from other non-federal sources.
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
