CHICAGO –The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $186,801 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to the city of Nelsonville, Ohio, for the acquisition and demolition of eight residential structures in the Hocking River floodplain. Following demolition, these properties will be maintained as permanent open space in the community.

“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.  “The acquisition and demolition of these structures permanently removes them from the floodplain and greatly reduces the financial impact on individuals and the community when future flooding occurs in this area.”

“Funding from this grant program will help the city of Nelsonville to significantly reduce flood risks in a flood-prone area,” said Evan Schumann, executive director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. “This will contribute to community resilience and toward becoming a safer Ohio.”

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the $249,068 eligible project cost. The city of Nelsonville will contribute 25 percent of the remaining funds, or $62,267.

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.

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