Last chance to apply for flood mitigation this week, final public meeting Tuesday

Published 7:54 pm Monday, February 25, 2019

For homeowners who suffered significant flood damages during Hurricane Florence, Friday is the last day to apply for federal funds that could be used to buyout, demolish, raise or otherwise fix flooding issues.

Tonight, at 6 p.m., Beaufort County Emergency Services will host the last of three meetings public meetings on the topic at the Belhaven Civic Center.

The meeting will be an opportunity for anyone in Beaufort County, including municipal residents, to ask questions and learn about the federal Hazard Grant Mitigation Program. Homeowners with or without flood insurance are available.

“This is the first time since Irene that we have been able to potentially been able to offer assistance to people without flood insurance,” Beaufort County Emergency Services Specialist Lisa Williams said.

In addition to new HMGP applicants, Williams said that there are more than 250 homeowners in Beaufort County who have unmet needs from previous disasters, with some applications dating back to 2011.

“When I get the opportunity to apply for grant funds, I go to those applications and find the ones that will fit the money that we’re applying for,” Williams said.

Decisions on what applications are funded are made at the state level.

Impacted individuals can receive an application in one of four ways:

  • See the Emergency Management section of the county website at co.beaufort.nc.us, and click on the “Flood Mitigation Assistance Application” link.
  • Call 252-940-6517 and leave a message
  • Email the request to Lisa.Williams@co.beaufort.nc.us
  • Pick up the application in person, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the front desk of the County Manager’s Office at 121 W. Third St., Washington.

Applications, along with supporting documentation, must be turned in no later than Friday. Applications lacking supporting documentation will not be eligible for funding during this grant cycle.

“If you have submitted an application, all supporting documentation is due by March 1,” Williams said.

The application package includes the following and all must be returned completed and signed:

  • Property site inventory — basic information about the house and damages
  • Declaration and release of citizenship
  • Model acknowledgement of conditions, which must be notarized

The owner must provide supporting documentation, including:

  • Flood elevation certificate if available
  • Flood insurance declaration page if insured
  • Flood proof of loss if insured. Written statement and documentation of flood damages if uninsured.
  • Four current exterior photos of the property in digital format labeled “front,” “right side,” “left side,” “back” and emailed to Williams@co.beaufort.nc.uswith the subject line as the address of the home.