Durbin Announces a Nearly $1.1 Million Investment in Flood Protection Efforts in Wood Dale, IL
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $1,093,748 grant for flood protection efforts in Wood Dale, Illinois.
“This federal funding will support flood control efforts in Wood Dale, and help protect the health, safety and welfare of local residents,” Durbin said. “Today’s investment will help reduce future costs to the local government for emergency rescue, infrastructure repair, debris removal and emergency shelters. While local communities continue to face major budget shortfalls, this federal investment will make an important difference.”
The proposed project will involve the voluntary acquisition and demolition of five residential properties regularly flooded by the Salt Creek. The land will be returned to green space, allowing flooding to occur without damage to property. It will reduce future flood insurance claims and the financial obligation of federal, state and local governments after a disaster.
Today’s grant was awarded through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program which provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.
Buying flood-prone property is one of many approaches to mitigating natural flood hazards. Unlike other hazard mitigation techniques, such as elevating homes (e.g., on pilings) above flood levels or building a dike, however, voluntary purchase projects permanently reduce a community’s vulnerability to flooding by moving people out of harm’s way. Property purchased through this program is often used to create public open space such as parks, wildlife refuges, and ball fields.