FEMA Awards $4.4 Million Grant To Jefferson County 

The hazard mitigation grant will be used to acquire and remove 28 flood-prone homes

Release Date: November 17, 2009
Release Number: R5-09-086

CHICAGO, Ill. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released $4,483,460 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Jefferson County, Wisc., for the acquisition and removal of 28 residential structures and one commercial structure.

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures.  Through HMGP, FEMA will pay 75 percent of the project costs.  The remaining 25 percent of the cost, $1,494,486, will be provided through a combination of funds from the state of Wisconsin and Jefferson County.  The Wisconsin Department of Commerce is providing the county with a Community Development Block Grant for the local match.

“Mitigation projects such as these benefit residents and communities affected by disasters,” said Janet M. Odeshoo, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region V. “These acquisitions in Jefferson County will reduce future structural losses and lessen the financial impact on individuals and governments following a disaster.”

These funds will be used to remove structures from flood-prone areas, returning the area to open space in perpetuity.  HMGP projects like this illustrate the importance of local, state and federal government working together for the benefit of citizens.

“We're pleased that funding has become available to help these families that were impacted last year by the flooding,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Ed Wall.  "These homes will be torn down and we won't have to worry about those structures ever flooding again."

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.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 17-Nov-2009 13:41:29