Wisconsin County to Get $1.5M in Flood Mitigation Funds from FEMA

Jefferson County, Wisconsin, has been has been awarded $1,530,596 in Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The award, announced by FEMA and Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) is to be used for the acquisition and demolition of 12 flood prone properties in the county.

According to FEMA, removing these homes from the Rock River and Lake Koshkonong floodplains will help reduce the community’s flood vulnerability. Upon completion of the project, the lots will be preserved as open space by the Jefferson County Parks Department.

“The Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs enable communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of loss of life and property,” Kevin M. Sligh, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region 5, said in a media release. “This project will eliminate future structural losses in Jefferson County by permanently removing these homes from the floodplain, greatly reducing the financial impact on individuals and the community.”

PDM provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. This year marks the end of the PDM program, which will be replaced by the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC).

Source: FEMA