Plymouth to use FEMA grant to offer home buyouts

by Samuel King (king@wsbt.com)

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FEMA grant will fund home buyouts in worst-flooded areas

Plymouth city officials say a $200,000 grant from FEMA will fund home buyouts in the areas that saw the worst flooding. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jan 14, 2008 at 5:49 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 21, 2008 at 11:36 PM EST

PLYMOUTH — People in Plymouth are beginning the long process of cleaning up. But a new grant could help minimize future damage. The grant would fund home buyouts.

City officials say homeowners in the area that saw the worst flooding would be eligible for those buyouts.

It won't help everyone, but officials say every little bit counts.

Congressman Joe Donnelly and Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter offered support for those homeowners who need it now. But a $200,000 grant from FEMA could help them in the future.

It would allow the city to buy a handful of homes in the area and improve the park along the river.

“It's not eminent domain, but it gives these homeowners a chance to get out of a situation where they're constantly being re-flooded every six or seven years,” explained Congressman Donnelly (D-Ind.).

Mayor Mark Senter says the grant request was made before he became mayor, but he's glad to have it.

“We might be able to buy, who knows, four or five homes with this money,” Senter told WSBT News. “That would save them obviously some heartache and some trouble. But the flood's still going to be here; we're not going to be able to move the river obviously.”

Officials stress this program would be completely voluntary.

There's no word yet on a timetable of when the homes will be bought out.

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