Georgia Communities Receive More Than $3.3 Million to Reduce Local Flood Damage

Peachtree City; DeKalb and Douglas Counties to receive FEMA grants

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $3,320,761 in projects that will reduce the possibility of flood damage in three Georgia communities.  Peachtree City and DeKalb and Douglas Counties each received a grant.  

“Repetitive flooding is a very dangerous and costly problem in Georgia for property owners and local governments alike,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “I am pleased that a coordinated local, state and federal team approach has resulted in projects that will reduce or eliminate flood losses in these communities.”

Awarded through FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, the overall goal of these projects is to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of damage to National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insured structures.  This is accomplished by funding cost-effective measures such as elevating, acquiring or relocating flood-prone structures.

“FEMA helps homeowners and communities make safer places by reducing the flood risk and protecting property,” said FEMA Regional Administrator Phil May.  “We are happy to help Georgians make better memories.” 

Peachtree City
This FMA grant for $669,304.50 will enable Peachtree City to fund infrastructure improvements that will substantially reduce the risk of flooding to a number of homes in the Tinsley Mill Village Condominium Community along Cherry Branch, a tributary of Flat Creek.  The grant will also reduce the number of NFIP claims and recurrent evacuation costs to local emergency service agencies.  The total project cost is $892,410.

DeKalb County
A $2,382,055.50 FMA program grant will be used to remove nine properties, with first floors that are below the base flood elevation of North Fork Peachtree Creek and its tributaries, which have been flooded numerous times.  Three of the properties have received multiple payments from the NFIP program for repetitive losses.  The grant represents the federal share of the total project cost of $3,176,074.

Douglas County
Douglas County will use a $32,000 grant to develop a FMA compliant plan for the county and the city of Douglasville.  The information from the plan will also be used to update Douglas County’s multi-jurisdictional floodplain maps.  The total project cost is $42,667.

Technical Assistance
The state will also receive a $237,401 technical assistance grant to help administer the FMA program and activities.  The figure represents the federal share of an estimated $316,535 in administrative costs.