Palm Bay City Awarded Over $2 Million for Flood Mitigation Efforts in Cimarron Circle
Palm Bay, FL – On August 24, 2020, the City of Palm Bay was notified of an award of $2,052,539 through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). In 2018, the City sought federal funding assistance to administer the Voluntary Home Buyout (VHB) Program to acquire and demolish 13 flood-prone homes on Cimarron Circle in northeast Palm Bay. The VHB Program is a long-standing effort by the City and Cimarron Circle homeowners to address repetitive flood damage following natural disasters.
In 2017, the City of Palm Bay was approached by homeowners on Cimarron Circle regarding losses incurred as a result of Hurricane Irma and sought assistance to address perpetual flood damage to the homes, which were built within a high-risk flood zone. Homes built within a flood plain sustain recurrent flood damage, which is not covered under home insurance.
Funding under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program covers 75 percent of overall project costs and requires a 25 percent cost-share from other funding sources. In 2019, the City was notified of its award of $684,179 in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds to meet the cost-share requirement.
The total projected cost of the Cimarron Circle flood damage mitigation project is $2,736,718 and will cover the cost of acquisition for the 13 properties, demolition, environmental reviews, and other related activity.
