Congressman David Scott (GA-13) announced that more than $8,000,000 in federal funds have been dispersed to purchase and demolish substantially damaged residential properties in Austell, Georgia. These properties were damaged during the major flooding events in September, 2009.
“While the devastating floods of 2009 may seem like a memory to many people, it is still a nightmare to many residents of Austell,” Congressman Scott said. “I am glad that FEMA was able to come through in a large way to help remove these homes from the future flooding and allow families and neighborhoods to rebuild their lives.”
A phased funding approach was taken to allow for properties to be acquired more quickly and to help homeowners recover from the damages. In Austell, substantially damaged residential properties will be purchased and demolished. The funding of $5,756,496 federal share is the remaining amount needed for the final 47 residences approved in the FEMA Tier II applications. In 2010, $2,387,502 was initially obligated for a total federal cost of $8,143,998 of a $10,858,664 total project cost. The federal government, through FEMA, provides a 75 percent match for the mitigation. FEMA provides the funding directly to the State, which works with local governments to mitigate the properties.
In 2010, FEMA also provided the following funds: $2,125,515 to demolish 16 residences in the cities of Douglasville and Lithia Springs and $1,765,049 to demolish 16 residences in Powder Springs. All structures have been determined to be substantially damaged and located in the 100 year floodplain and the land is to remain as open space in perpetuity. This proposal will eliminate both the risk of flood damage to the structures and the need for future federal disaster assistance.
A federal disaster declaration for Cobb and Douglas Counties was made on September 24, 2009. On September 25, 2009, Congressman Scott and Vice President Joe Biden, along with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, toured the areas stricken by the flood in Cobb County. On August 22, 2012, Congressman Scott joined officials from Cobb County, the City of Austell, U.S. Geological Survey and National Weather Service to unveil a powerful new flood preparedness tool that will help emergency managers protect lives and property in the flood-prone Sweetwater Creek area.
