CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND CONTINUES ITS HOUSE RAISING EFFORTS
In its ongoing efforts to improve storm safety and resiliency, the City of Tybee Island continues to work with residents who want their homes raised up to prevent flooding. The City has now received plans for four homes, with one already having been lifted and nearing completion. We hope to have the other participating homes under way soon. We can not add homes to this first grant application.
The grant management consultants will provide a progress report at the next Tybee Island City Council meeting October 22, 6:30 p.m.
After Hurricane Irma caused severe flooding in September 2017, the City submitted two separate applications to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) at the request of FEMA. The first was for homes that FEMA had deemed repetitive loss/substantial damage. There were twelve homes on this grant application, which was submitted in early 2018.
The first grant was awarded in the summer of 2019. The City hired a grant management consultant to assist with administration and by the spring of 2020 we were ready to accept construction plans.
The second application was submitted in the summer of 2018 and included approximately 50 additional homes that met grant criteria. This grant has not been awarded to the City to date. Although we are hopeful, we do not know when or if the second grant will be awarded.