Lafayette to get funds to remove houses
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LAFAYETTE — Lafayette Parish has been approved for $1.6 million in federal funds to purchase flood-prone homes for removal.
The money comes through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that aims to reduce flood insurance cost by buying properties that have suffered repeated severe flooding.
“Sometimes it makes the best amount of sense to remove the structure,” FEMA spokesman Andrew Thomas said.
Properties included in such buyouts are selected by local governments and subjected to a cost-benefit analysis that takes into account the burden on the National Flood Insurance Program for repetitive flood claims.
Home and business owners must agree to the buyouts.
The $1.6 million for Lafayette Parish is for the cities of Lafayette, Carencro and Youngsville to purchase 13 flood-prone homes, according to information from U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office.
Homes purchased under the program are generally demolished or removed and the property is left as green space.
Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the federal government has funded buyouts for 172 flood-prone properties in Louisiana at a cost of $26.3 million, according to figures from FEMA.
“It seems to come to a forefront following a disaster,” Thomas said of interest in the buyout program.
Lafayette City-Parish Chief Administrative Officer Dee Stanley said the parish also is applying for a share of $74 million in flood hazard mitigation money set aside for Louisiana.
He said the parish hopes to use the money for major drainage projects that could reduce flooding.
The money comes through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that aims to reduce flood insurance cost by buying properties that have suffered repeated severe flooding.
“Sometimes it makes the best amount of sense to remove the structure,” FEMA spokesman Andrew Thomas said.
Properties included in such buyouts are selected by local governments and subjected to a cost-benefit analysis that takes into account the burden on the National Flood Insurance Program for repetitive flood claims.
Home and business owners must agree to the buyouts.
The $1.6 million for Lafayette Parish is for the cities of Lafayette, Carencro and Youngsville to purchase 13 flood-prone homes, according to information from U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s office.
Homes purchased under the program are generally demolished or removed and the property is left as green space.
Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the federal government has funded buyouts for 172 flood-prone properties in Louisiana at a cost of $26.3 million, according to figures from FEMA.
“It seems to come to a forefront following a disaster,” Thomas said of interest in the buyout program.
Lafayette City-Parish Chief Administrative Officer Dee Stanley said the parish also is applying for a share of $74 million in flood hazard mitigation money set aside for Louisiana.
He said the parish hopes to use the money for major drainage projects that could reduce flooding.
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