Governor Bentley Announces Federal Hazard Mitigation Funds for Elba

Gov. Robert Bentley announces $2 million in FEMA mitigation funds will be made available to the City of Elba due to the December 2016 floods, on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, in Elba, Ala. The money will be used to acquire and/or demolish homes that historically have sustained consistent flood damage in recent decades. Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner (AEMA) and FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Libby Turner joined Gov. Bentley for the announcement. Coffee County is one of several counties who received federal funds for public assistance following the December 2015 floods. FEMA is providing Alabama approximately $4.7 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to mitigate the effects of future disasters. (Governor's Office, Jamie Martin)
Gov. Robert Bentley announces $2 million in FEMA mitigation funds will be made available to the City of Elba due to the December 2016 floods, on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, in Elba, Ala. The money will be used to acquire and/or demolish homes that historically have sustained consistent flood damage in recent decades. Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner (AEMA) and FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer Libby Turner joined Gov. Bentley for the announcement. Coffee County is one of several counties who received federal funds for public assistance following the December 2015 floods. FEMA is providing Alabama approximately $4.7 million in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to mitigate the effects of future disasters. (Governor's Office, Jamie Martin)

ELBA (Governor’s Office) – Governor Bentley on Tuesday joined local, state and federal officials to announce an award of $2 million in Hazard Mitigation funds to the City of Elba from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants to state and local governments to mitigate the effects of future disasters.

“Today is an exciting day for the City of Elba. I was here on December 26th and  witnessed firsthand the extent of the damage that came from severe weather and flooding. I also spent time talking with some of the families who were displaced,” Governor Bentley said. “Today is a critical step toward helping this community that has been dealing with the effects of severe flooding for decades.”

FEMA notified Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) that Alabama will receive approximately $4.7 million in HMGP funds. The city of Elba will use $2 million of the mitigation funds for acquisition and/or demolition of homes that historically have sustained consistent flood damage in recent decades.

On Christmas Day, 2015, Governor Robert Bentley issued a State of Emergency for all Alabama counties for flooding as a result of the excessive rain. Elba was one of the hardest hit areas in Coffee County. Joint preliminary damage assessments revealed nearly 200 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed.  Elba has a history of dealing with severe flooding dating back to 1929.

The federal mitigation funds can be used for several different projects: Acquisition/Demolition or Relocation of Damaged Homes, Elevation of Public/Private Structures, Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects, Wind Protection (Community or Residential Safe Rooms/Hardening Existing Structures), Regional Mitigation Planning Activities and Emergency Power Generation.

Authorized under Section 404 of the Stafford Act and administered by FEMA, HMGP was created to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters.

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06-21-16 Elba to Receive FEMA Funds for December Floods

Provided by the Office of the Governor of Alabama | governor.alabama.gov