FEMA Approves $6.5 Million for Virginia Mitigation Projects

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, Jan. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release:

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is announcing funding for the Commonwealth of Virginia for mitigation projects through the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program. FMA provides funding to states, territories, federally-recognized tribes and local communities for projects and planning that reduce or eliminate long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Recipients include the Commonwealth of Virginia, the cities of Norfolk, Hampton, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and the Northern Neck Planning District Commission. The money will be used to fund technical studies as well as home elevations and acquisitions to reduce the risk of future flooding.

The two largest awards will go to the City of Norfolk and the City of Chesapeake. FEMA is awarding $3,221,164.00 to Norfolk to fund the elevation of eleven structures located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA). Most of these properties experience repeated, costly flood damage. Elevating these structures will help to protect the safety of residents living in flood-prone areas and will reduce the need to make future flood insurance claims.

In addition, FEMA is awarding $1,072,071.00 to the City of Chesapeake to fund the acquisition of five properties that have suffered costly, repetitive losses (four or more) in Chesapeake, VA. These properties will be preserved as open-space in the future.

The projects in Virginia will help to reduce future claims against the National Flood Insurance Program; but, more importantly, they will reduce or eliminate the risk of flooding to these property owners who have already lived through multiple flood events.

"We are glad to see that Virginia is taking the important step to make their local communities safer and protect property owners from flooding," said MaryAnn Tierney, FEMA Region III Regional Administrator. "We congratulate them on the award of this funding and encourage the Commonwealth to continue its efforts to reduce flood risk."

FEMA will provide the funding to the Commonwealth of Virginia and then the Commonwealth will manage the disbursement of the funds to local communities.

Additional information about FEMA's FMA program can be found at https://www.fema.gov/flood-mitigation-assistance-grant-program

FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters. FEMA Region III's jurisdiction includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Learn more about FEMA Region III at www.FEMA.gov/region-iii. Stay informed of FEMA's activities online: videos and podcasts are available at fema.gov/medialibrary and youtube.com/fema. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion3.