2005 News

March 16, 2005
COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCE $5.9 MILLION GRANT AIMED AT CONTINUING FEDERAL HOME ELEVATION/ACQUISITION PROGRAM

The Bucks County commissioners have announced a $5.9 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Resource Conservation Service that will allow for continuation of home elevations and land acquisitions along the Neshaminy Creek Watershed in Bensalem, Bristol, Middletown, Lower Southampton, and Northampton townships and Hulmville Borough. The partnership has already allowed for completion of 12 buyouts and 17 elevations, all aimed at protecting families and property in the flood-prone region. Homes are either elevated to remove them from harm's way, or sold for demolition and parkland creation.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already paid out more than the value of many homes with flood insurance. The Bucks County program is a means by which to permanently solve the problem while reducing costs to homeowners, municipalities and the federal government.

Chairman Charles H. Martin, notes, "We are committed to this program and have witnessed the success of our efforts through the prevention of further disasters to our citizens in that region." He credits former commissioner, now Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick for his contributions in securing this grant. "We are thrilled to be able to move into the next phase of our work."

According to Richard Manna, project director, the federal government identifies priority lists for elevations, flood-proofing and buyouts based on the criticality of the property. They base their list on previous damage severity. The new grant will allow the county to move into the priority three tier.

The overall scope of this project sums up at $15.3 million. To date, NRCS has allocated $10.22 million. The new grant, which is included in that amount, should allow for another 40-50 homes to be purchased for parkland or protected by elevation or flood-proofing.