Mitigation Project in Nashville Will Remove Homes from Flood-Prone Area
Wednesday, October 08, 2008 | 04:00am
NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen today announced the release of $3,415,006 for two projects in Tennessee through the Federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program. In Davidson County, a grant of $730,180 will allow Metro Water Services to eliminate the repetitive flooding of certain properties by purchasing the affected homes.
“This project is a good example of a proactive step designed to protect the citizens of Tennessee,” said Bredesen. “Successful mitigation efforts can reduce substantially the amount of public money that has to be spent later for disaster recovery efforts.”
The Nashville project will purchase two homes from property owners on San Marcos Drive and enhance the floodplain management along the unnamed tributary of Seven Mile Creek, commonly called Brentwood Branch. The two homes will be purchased at a fair market price and the structures will be demolished.
The homeowners will find relief from future flooding events, and their claims will no longer burden the National Flood Insurance Program or Nashville’s resources during or after flood events in that area.
Without removal, these properties could be expected to experience more than $1.7 million on average in flooding related costs over a 100-year period, according to the grant application. The buyout is expected to save $4.75 for every dollar spent, based on the benefit-cost analysis conducted as part of the grant process.
“Metro Water Services has been proactive in utilizing available resources to better maintain the floodplain areas by moving population out of harms way,” said Jim Bassham, Director of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, which oversees administration of the grants. “This project was highly-ranked in the competitiveness process for the grant and is the only non-earmarked or guaranteed project funded nationwide this year by the program.”
The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program, administered by FEMA, provides funds to states, territories, Indian tribal governments, communities and universities for hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster event. Funding these plans and projects reduces the overall risks to the population and structures, while also reducing reliance on funding from actual disaster declarations.
By performing mitigation projects for hazards that could affect an area, local governments are able to reduce the potential damage and consequently the costs of responding to disasters.
More information on FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program can be found online at www.fema.gov/government/grant/pdm/index.shtm.
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