
Residents of Mecklenburg County affected by the ravages of Hurricane Helene have a beacon of hope in the form of financial assistance, thanks to FEMA and the State of North Carolina's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). According to a recent notice from county officials, homeowners residing in the FEMA Floodplain or those with a history of flood damages may be eligible for the HMGP funding, even if Hurricane Helene did not directly damage their properties.
The HMGP is offering two types of aid: buy-outs and elevation projects, both targeting residents looking to mitigate future flood risks, and while there's an emphasis on assisting those directly impacted by Hurricane Helene's wrath, all eligible might be considered for the Program, under particular conditions, they're offering 100% pre-disaster fair market value for voluntary property buy-outs, no concurrent flood insurance needed. In contrast, the elevation projects—managed not by homeowners but by assigned contractors—also promise full coverage, floored, however, by a post-project requirement for the maintenance of flood insurance, a safeguard against the unpredictable whims of nature.
Interested property owners must bring all documentations showing ownership to sign up for HMGP support, and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Hazard Mitigation team will be present in the county to assist in the application process. Those willing to take a proactive step towards resilience against future floods should take this opportunity, as personnel will be on hand to guide them through the program's intricacies during the scheduled sessions.
The information sessions are set up at the Hal Marshall Building on Suttle Avenue in Charlotte, a prime location to reach out to the community members seeking aid, the dates as follows: next Tuesday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with those attending and completing applications during these times being given priority consideration in the eyes of those managing this mitigation initiative.