21 West Virginia Flood-Prone Properties Eligible for Buyouts

Owners of 21 flood-prone properties in a rural Berkeley County, West Virginia community are being offered buyouts.

The parcels in Sportsman’s Paradise include nine vacant lots and 12 with dwellings.

Donna Seiler explained the hazard mitigation program last week to the County Council.

Seiler said the federal government will provide funding for the buyouts. She said the targeted properties have sustained repetitive losses from Potomac River flooding.

County Administrator Deborah Hammond said there have been two previous hazard mitigation buyouts in Sportsman’s Paradise. The first began in 1996 and a smaller one occurred in 1999.

Hammond said the county now owns about 50 properties in the community.