FEMA Awards $3.1 Million Grant to the Village of Whitefish Bay: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds will be used for the upgrade of storm sewer…

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today approved $3,143,531 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the village of Whitefish Bay, Wis., for the upgrading of several storm sewers, including the construction of a dry detention basin to alleviate flooding to nearby properties.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V Administrator Andrew Velasquez III.  “The improvement to the storm water system will reduce flood damage to nearby homes and other structures, thereby reducing the financial impact on individuals and the community.”

“This is the largest construction projected funded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in Wisconsin,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Brian Satula.  “The flooding in 2010 demonstrated the need for  improvements to prevent future flood damage to homes in the area.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures.  Through HMGP, FEMA will pay $3,143,531, or 75 percent of the project’s total cost.  Wisconsin Emergency Management and the village of Whitefish Bay will each contribute 12.5 percent of the funds, or $523,922 each. 

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

###

Follow FEMA online at twitter.com/femaregion5, www.facebook.com/fema, and www.youtube.com/fema.  Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at twitter.com/craigatfema.  The social media links provided are for reference only.  FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455