Atlantic County Coastal Communities Given $7.3 Million Grant for Home Elevations

ATLANTIC COUNTY — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a $7.3 million grant to Brigantine, Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Longport, and Somers Point to partially cover the cost to elevate homes.

The grant will reimburse at least 75 percent of the costs of elevations for 48 home in the six communities. The remainder of the cost to elevate homes will be the responsibility of the property owners.

“This is a huge win for the City of Brigantine and all the coastal communities in Atlantic County,” Brigantine Mayor Andy Simpson said in a press release. “Thanks to funding from FEMA, property owners will be able to elevate the homes that have suffered from flood-loss damages in the past.”

An involved application process took place in the fall of 2017 which included detailed information on each specific property. Rutala Associates, a local planning firm, prepared the application.

The program requires that properties using the FEMA mitigation grant must maintain flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program in perpetuity. The flood insurance requirement will also become part of the property deed.

While the grant reimburses property owners a portion of the expense of raising their homes, those receiving the funding must cover the entire cost of the construction then FEMA will reimburse the property owners, only after all work is completed in accordance with the federal program requirements.

“Brigantine took the lead on this application because elevating homes is the best action that a coastal community can take to increase resiliency,” Simpson said. “We are happy to be able to assist property owners to elevate their homes out of harm’s way.”

Grant funds to assist homeowners to elevate their homes are offered by FEMA on an annual basis.

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