Listeners Club

Forgot Password

Not a Member? Sign up here!

banner

Local Headlines

Southbury awarded FEMA funds for 9 flood-prone properties

Little more than a million dollars is coming to Southbury to buy land and homes in a flood-prone area of town.  A grant award, made through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, will pay for the acquisition and demolition of nine properties in a flood-prone area of Southbury. The properties were damaged in 2011 by three major flooding events in just half a year's time. Each house suffered flooding above the first floor elevation, resulting in property damage, ground erosion, loss of personal belongings, and structural damage to the houses. The grant will allow the area to be designated as open space along the Pomperaug River.

 

The first flooding event happened in March 2011 when the Pomperaug River overflowed from snow melting, rains and the spring thaw.  The second event, Tropical Storm Irene, occurred in August, followed a month later by Tropical Storm Lee. First responders had to help evacuate residents from the rising flood waters.

 

Of the $1,086,546, $415,007 was already awarded by FEMA to the town in March 2015 for four of the properties on Flood Bridge Road. The town has already begun the work with respect to the four properties.  The remaining five properties were tied up in FEMA’s environmental/historic preservation review, which  was recently completed.  FEMA funding is paying for 75% of the project.

 

Senator Richard Blumenthal says removing the homes is the best course of action for public safety, the environment, and for taxpayers.  He applauded Southbury officials for their proactive leadership.

 

First Selectman Ed Edelson says this grant will enable the town to help homeowners and the environment at the same time while saving the Federal Government money in the long run due by removing these houses from the Flood Plain.

 

Once the properties are acquired and razed, the land will be designated as open space and will become part of the Pomperaug River Greenway. One of the properties is adjacent to Cedarland Park, a small “pocket park” in the neighborhood.

On Air Now

Dave Ramsey

Local Headlines